# Story Structure Reference

This reference provides common story structures and frameworks for planning narratives.

## Three-Act Structure

### Act One: Setup (25% of story)
- **Hook**: Opening scene that grabs attention
- **Inciting Incident**: Event that disrupts the protagonist's normal world
- **First Plot Point**: Decision/event that propels protagonist into Act Two (typically at 25% mark)

### Act Two: Confrontation (50% of story)
- **Rising Action**: Series of obstacles and complications
- **Midpoint**: Major revelation or reversal (at 50% mark)
- **Pinch Points**: Moments that increase pressure on protagonist
- **Second Plot Point**: Lowest point/crisis that leads into Act Three (at 75% mark)

### Act Three: Resolution (25% of story)
- **Climax**: Final confrontation or decision
- **Falling Action**: Immediate consequences of climax
- **Resolution**: New normal/equilibrium established

## Hero's Journey (Joseph Campbell)

1. **Ordinary World**: Hero's normal life
2. **Call to Adventure**: Challenge or quest presented
3. **Refusal of the Call**: Initial hesitation or fear
4. **Meeting the Mentor**: Guidance or magical aid
5. **Crossing the Threshold**: Commitment to the journey
6. **Tests, Allies, and Enemies**: Learning the rules of the new world
7. **Approach to the Inmost Cave**: Preparation for major challenge
8. **Ordeal**: Greatest fear/challenge faced
9. **Reward**: Achievement of goal or new knowledge
10. **The Road Back**: Return journey begins
11. **Resurrection**: Final test with everything at stake
12. **Return with the Elixir**: Hero returns transformed

## Save the Cat Beat Sheet (Blake Snyder)

1. **Opening Image**: Snapshot of protagonist's world before change
2. **Theme Stated**: Central question or theme introduced
3. **Setup**: Establish protagonist's world, flaws, and stakes
4. **Catalyst**: Event that starts the story (at 10% mark)
5. **Debate**: Internal conflict about whether to act
6. **Break into Two**: Protagonist commits to journey (at 20-25% mark)
7. **B Story**: Subplot introduced (often romantic or thematic)
8. **Fun and Games**: Promise of the premise delivered
9. **Midpoint**: False victory or defeat (at 50% mark)
10. **Bad Guys Close In**: External and internal pressure increases
11. **All Is Lost**: Lowest point (at 75% mark)
12. **Dark Night of the Soul**: Protagonist processes loss
13. **Break into Three**: Solution discovered (at 80% mark)
14. **Finale**: Climax and resolution
15. **Final Image**: Parallel to opening showing change

## Character Arc Templates

### Positive Change Arc
- **Lie Believed**: Character starts believing something false about themselves/world
- **Want vs. Need**: What they think they want vs. what they actually need
- **Ghost/Wound**: Past trauma influencing present behavior
- **Moment of Truth**: Forced to choose between lie and truth
- **Resolution**: Embraces truth and grows

### Flat Arc
- **Truth Known**: Character already knows the truth
- **World's Lie**: The world around them believes a lie
- **Testing**: Character's truth is challenged repeatedly
- **Impact**: Character changes the world around them
- **Affirmation**: Character's truth proven correct

### Negative Arc
- **Initial Weakness**: Character has a flaw or belief
- **Escalation**: Flaw grows worse through choices
- **Point of No Return**: Character chooses darkness
- **Descent**: Consequences spiral
- **Tragic End**: Character destroyed or becomes antagonist

## Scene Structure

### Scene Components
1. **Goal**: What the POV character wants in this scene
2. **Conflict**: Opposition to achieving the goal
3. **Disaster**: Outcome (usually negative) that propels to next scene

### Sequel Components (reaction to scene)
1. **Reaction**: Emotional response to disaster
2. **Dilemma**: Working through options
3. **Decision**: Choice that leads to next goal/scene

## Pacing Guidelines

### Chapter Length by Genre
- **Thriller/Mystery**: 2,000-3,000 words (faster pace)
- **Fantasy/Sci-Fi**: 3,000-5,000 words (world-building needs)
- **Romance**: 2,500-4,000 words (emotional beats)
- **Literary Fiction**: 2,000-6,000 words (varies widely)
- **YA**: 2,000-3,500 words (shorter attention span)

### Tension Management
- **High-tension scenes**: Action, conflict, revelations (shorter, punchier)
- **Low-tension scenes**: Character development, world-building (can be longer)
- **Rhythm**: Alternate between high and low tension
- **Overall trend**: Tension should increase as story progresses

## Plot Development

### Conflict Types
1. **Character vs. Character**: Antagonist opposition
2. **Character vs. Self**: Internal struggle
3. **Character vs. Society**: Against norms/systems
4. **Character vs. Nature**: Environmental challenges
5. **Character vs. Technology**: Man vs. machine
6. **Character vs. Fate**: Against destiny/prophecy

### Subplot Integration
- **Mirror subplots**: Reflect main theme differently
- **Contrast subplots**: Show opposite approach to theme
- **Complication subplots**: Add obstacles to main plot
- **Resolution rule**: Resolve minor subplots before climax, major ones during/after

## Genre-Specific Structures

### Mystery/Thriller
- Introduction of crime/mystery
- Investigation and clue discovery
- Red herrings and misdirection
- Escalating danger
- Revelation and confrontation
- Resolution and explanation

### Romance
- Meet-cute or introduction
- Attraction develops
- Barrier/conflict introduced
- Relationship deepens despite obstacles
- Black moment/breakup
- Grand gesture/reconciliation
- Happy ending or HEA (Happily Ever After)

### Fantasy/Sci-Fi
- Ordinary world establishment
- Introduction to magical/sci-fi elements
- Quest or mission defined
- Journey and world exploration
- Building towards prophesied/anticipated event
- Final battle or confrontation
- New world order established