Writing Tip: Demystifying Story Structure
Demystifying Story Structure
By Y.P. Wright
It comes to you during your evening commute or while your relaxing beneath the hot water of your morning shower. It’s surely destined to be the most prolific story that connoisseurs of great literature have ever seen. After your readers sink their teeth into your gift to the reading world, no one will deny your literary prowess.
But first, you must write that gift. Ahhh yes, therein lies the rub. You must actually start-and starting a story is no easy task (for most).
Seriously though, all joking aside. It’s critical that you pay attention to the elements of story structure to give your story a chance at success. It will help you narrow down the specifics of your story and make writing much easier. It will help bring clarity to your creative vision.
Demystifying Story Structure
Consider this-all stories consist of three parts. They have a beginning, a middle and an end. This is what’s known as the three-act structure and it’s the most fundamental element of storytelling.
Beginning doesn’t mean your hero’s story starts with him eating breakfast and getting ready for work. For the love of all things literary-don’t start your stories like this if you can help it.
Three Act Structure Explained
- Beginning — The point at which everything is about to change. Consider this the first step of the journey. The story catalyst lives here. Your protagonist faces a dilemma of some sort that changes everything.
- Middle — This is the point that your protagonist overcomes some obstacle or faces the ultimate test. He/she must master something, acquire new skills, etc. The middle is what you might consider the meat of the story. It’s where all the action takes place. This is where everything gets set for the climax to come.
- The End — This is where your protagonist’s lessons or training, if you will, come into play. He/she faces their greatest test and overcomes all that your fictional world/characters have thrown their way. Climax and resolution live here.
Relatable Example: Star Wars
Most of you are familiar with this epic saga, this work of genius that supersedes nearly any other work in its genre. But, at its core, it’s really just a coming of age story. Let’s break it down.
- Beginning-Luke is just living his life with a regular grind and family. He’s an average guy. The catalyst, the murder of his aunt and uncle and Leia’s plea for help, sets the story in motion as he joins Obi-Wan to rescue Leia.
- Middle-Our hero, Luke, becomes a Jedi knight with Obi-Wan’s guidance. Other key characters are also introduced here, Han Solo and Chewbacca.
- End-The ultimate test for Luke as he has to trust the Force to destroy the Death Star. Following his victory, he returns to his new normal, as a hero who is forever changed by his experiences.
The example above is what’s known as the Hero’s Journey approach to the three-act structure. It’s a storytelling model that is as old as the act of storytelling and it provides the bones for your story. Its purpose is to help writer’s and storytellers outline the hero/protagonist’s transformation. This is the foundation upon which great stories are built.
Put it to the test and use it to give your protagonist and his story a solid foundation and structure.
Originally published at https://www.ypwright.com on November 25, 2019.
