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The Story Structure Secret: Actions and Goals
Easily create propulsive, page-turning narratives! Discover the intuitive, character-driven structure at the heart of your favorite novels and films.
How is A Game of Thrones the same story as The Lego Movie? How is the mind-bending plot of Inception identical to the terse narrative of Gravity? In what way is Clarice Starling’s struggle to silence the lambs indistinguishable from Harry Potter’s pursuit of the philosopher’s stone? Despite the striking differences in these stories, they share a less conspicuous similarity: they’re all structured on a universal pattern of actions undertaken by their characters .
This sequence of six Actions and Goals is the hidden foundation of modern story structure. By aligning the unique actions your characters take with these universal story actions, you can easily create compelling narratives that hook your readers from the first page to the last. Whether you’re writing for television or plotting a novel, penning your first screenplay or following up your latest bestseller, this groundbreaking storytelling technique will revolutionize your writing process .
Actions and Goals will teach you:
How to use the actions of your characters to structure your story.
How your character’s goal should evolve as the story progresses.
The five turning points and the decision your character must make at each one.
How a conflict of ideals creates the opposition your characters face.
How your character’s attempt to fill a new role propels them through the story.
Successful storytellers understand the importance of structure. Actions and Goals gives you beat by beat examples of this structural secret at work in over a dozen critically acclaimed novels and films. From The Hunger Games to The Empire Strikes Back, from Titanic to Iron Man, learn the innovative, action-oriented structure at the heart of them all!
How is A Game of Thrones the same story as The Lego Movie? How is the mind-bending plot of Inception identical to the terse narrative of Gravity? In what way is Clarice Starling’s struggle to silence the lambs indistinguishable from Harry Potter’s pursuit of the philosopher’s stone? Despite the striking differences in these stories, they share a less conspicuous similarity: they’re all structured on a universal pattern of actions undertaken by their characters .
This sequence of six Actions and Goals is the hidden foundation of modern story structure. By aligning the unique actions your characters take with these universal story actions, you can easily create compelling narratives that hook your readers from the first page to the last. Whether you’re writing for television or plotting a novel, penning your first screenplay or following up your latest bestseller, this groundbreaking storytelling technique will revolutionize your writing process .
Actions and Goals will teach you:
How to use the actions of your characters to structure your story.
How your character’s goal should evolve as the story progresses.
The five turning points and the decision your character must make at each one.
How a conflict of ideals creates the opposition your characters face.
How your character’s attempt to fill a new role propels them through the story.
Successful storytellers understand the importance of structure. Actions and Goals gives you beat by beat examples of this structural secret at work in over a dozen critically acclaimed novels and films. From The Hunger Games to The Empire Strikes Back, from Titanic to Iron Man, learn the innovative, action-oriented structure at the heart of them all!
- GenresWritingNonfiction
428 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 16, 2016
120 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
About the author
Marshall Dotson
1 book9 followersMarshall Dotson is one of over seven billion Homo Sapiens populating planet Earth. Like other members of his species, he is primarily diurnal and possesses opposable thumbs which he uses, to varying degrees of success, to manipulate his environment. He enjoys both food and drink and, as a result, is condemned to the usage of a toilet at regular intervals. He loves stories and storytelling, and when he isn’t wrestling with his own novels, he’s analyzing the works of others in his field who make it look so easy.
Visit him at sixactstructure.com for authorial musings, story structure analysis, or just to say hello.
Visit him at sixactstructure.com for authorial musings, story structure analysis, or just to say hello.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 11, 2021
For writers who aspire to commercial success, this book offers relief from the high-brow approach to outlining plots. Having read Ron Tobias’ book 20 Master Plots twice, I found this book to be more “accessible” in that it ties the plots of popular movies to consistent conditions, opposing forces and turning points. It works well for me because the plots match the genre in which I am writing. And that leads to the reason I didn’t give the book 5 stars. It’s very narrow in scope and therefore may not be good fit for a lot of writers.
May 17, 2018
This was the book that finally made me truly understand plot structure and how many story elements should be interconnected to build solid outline.
For instance, the introduction of "Set Up", "Recall", and "Payoff", and the explanation of how they relate to each other and to different story acts, was a much more clear and practical approach than the more abstract idea of foreshadowing.
Finally, the six act structure also resonated with me. It simplifies some of the longer story outlines (such as Hero's Journey), and expands on the classic Three Act structure.
For instance, the introduction of "Set Up", "Recall", and "Payoff", and the explanation of how they relate to each other and to different story acts, was a much more clear and practical approach than the more abstract idea of foreshadowing.
Finally, the six act structure also resonated with me. It simplifies some of the longer story outlines (such as Hero's Journey), and expands on the classic Three Act structure.
April 13, 2021
This book is a gem! I'm tempted to get two more copies in case this ever goes out of print. (I'm not kidding.) I am a pantser and usually write on 'feeling,' but feeling takes a long time, with a lot of trial and error. That is why I'm going back to the basics; I've decided to study story structure, full on. I'm hoping to speed up my turn-around time.
I've read so many crappy books about writing; this is not one of them. I stumbled upon the author's website and it was quite clear that he knew what he was talking about. I also appreciated how he gave all of his information away for free.
I'm shocked that this book has so little reviews. If you're into learning story structure, this is one of the best.
I've read so many crappy books about writing; this is not one of them. I stumbled upon the author's website and it was quite clear that he knew what he was talking about. I also appreciated how he gave all of his information away for free.
I'm shocked that this book has so little reviews. If you're into learning story structure, this is one of the best.
April 26, 2021
It is good for someone who's mind easily goes on tangential rides to read a book on writing which clearly advocates an organized road trip. I can provide plenty of color but Dotson helps me think with a defined road map. It's like pulling back a dog that wants to smell every flower and tree in the path. I'm sure I'll deviate-that's the easy part. I don't worry about this book making my path too strict, it what I, and I presume many others, need .
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November 8, 2019
This is a very simple, very intelligent book that makes concrete many things that are either implicit (and therefore difficult to unpack and make useful) or too abstract (same problems) in the standard screenplay structure books.
This isn't a comprehensive overview of available structural approaches -- no 2-part, none of the ordinary ways of talking about 3-, 4-, and 5- acts, no discussion of episodic or associative structural approaches, no Dostoevskyan/Dickensian long lines, etc. What it is, instead, is a reconceptualizing of the screenplay 3-act as imagined by Syd Field and others into a six-part rhetorical model that hews close to a set of dramatic questions that propel the story forward and bring plenty of pattern and plenty of variation.
I'm not sure where this book came from -- it might be self-published -- but who cares? There is something useful here, a new and simplified way of talking about old things, and I'm excited about it.
Kyle Minor, author of Praying Drunk
This isn't a comprehensive overview of available structural approaches -- no 2-part, none of the ordinary ways of talking about 3-, 4-, and 5- acts, no discussion of episodic or associative structural approaches, no Dostoevskyan/Dickensian long lines, etc. What it is, instead, is a reconceptualizing of the screenplay 3-act as imagined by Syd Field and others into a six-part rhetorical model that hews close to a set of dramatic questions that propel the story forward and bring plenty of pattern and plenty of variation.
I'm not sure where this book came from -- it might be self-published -- but who cares? There is something useful here, a new and simplified way of talking about old things, and I'm excited about it.
Kyle Minor, author of Praying Drunk
October 2, 2021
There are a lot of four-star reviews for this, of which I am suspicious. Too bad I bought this without having a chance to look through it first, I could've saved myself some money.
The author takes the standard three-act structure and breaks it down into a more complicated, muddy, six-act structure. I'm not sure why any writer would need to do this -- the expanded acts seem arbitrary; you can't get a grasp on what they're actually supposed to be. So, instead of clarity or insight, you're left confused. Add to this, the fact that the book is nearly 400 pages, and you can see my frustration. I felt like I was trying to learn something that only existed in the author's mind.
Also, when you're talking about film specifically, but are using examples from novels that were turned into films, you're cheating. Examples taken from Harry Potter, The Hunger Games and Game of Thrones, used throughout, are books! Come on, people!!!
The author takes the standard three-act structure and breaks it down into a more complicated, muddy, six-act structure. I'm not sure why any writer would need to do this -- the expanded acts seem arbitrary; you can't get a grasp on what they're actually supposed to be. So, instead of clarity or insight, you're left confused. Add to this, the fact that the book is nearly 400 pages, and you can see my frustration. I felt like I was trying to learn something that only existed in the author's mind.
Also, when you're talking about film specifically, but are using examples from novels that were turned into films, you're cheating. Examples taken from Harry Potter, The Hunger Games and Game of Thrones, used throughout, are books! Come on, people!!!
August 28, 2021
I highly recommend this book for use as a writer. It’s an entertaining read, loaded with great examples from popular film and fiction novels. And the method described within these pages is spot on. I’ve loved utilizing it in my own writing and it’s helped me past a few hurtles I just couldn’t find my way through. ypu guys really should also check out the website that has dozens of story breakdowns using this method that has been invaluable.
October 29, 2020
Great book to use before doing a 2nd or 90th draft. Stumbled upon Dotson's approach while revising a novel and this book really helped polish those pivotal moments in the story. I've read hundreds of books on writing - they all help, but this is truly a gem in my writing treasure chest. Especially when it comes to your hero's arc. Will be using it again and again.
May 30, 2020
A great guide to story structure aimed at the analysis of commercially successful popular movies and books. I gained a lot of reassurance from the read and it helped me see holes in my own story that leaves openings for greater character depth.
August 4, 2021
One of the best writing/plotting books I've ever read. And it's fun to read too. I highly recommend it!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews