149 lines
5.7 KiB
Markdown
Executable File
149 lines
5.7 KiB
Markdown
Executable File
# Story Structure Reference
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This reference provides common story structures and frameworks for planning narratives.
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## Three-Act Structure
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### Act One: Setup (25% of story)
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- **Hook**: Opening scene that grabs attention
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- **Inciting Incident**: Event that disrupts the protagonist's normal world
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- **First Plot Point**: Decision/event that propels protagonist into Act Two (typically at 25% mark)
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### Act Two: Confrontation (50% of story)
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- **Rising Action**: Series of obstacles and complications
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- **Midpoint**: Major revelation or reversal (at 50% mark)
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- **Pinch Points**: Moments that increase pressure on protagonist
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- **Second Plot Point**: Lowest point/crisis that leads into Act Three (at 75% mark)
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### Act Three: Resolution (25% of story)
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- **Climax**: Final confrontation or decision
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- **Falling Action**: Immediate consequences of climax
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- **Resolution**: New normal/equilibrium established
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## Hero's Journey (Joseph Campbell)
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1. **Ordinary World**: Hero's normal life
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2. **Call to Adventure**: Challenge or quest presented
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3. **Refusal of the Call**: Initial hesitation or fear
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4. **Meeting the Mentor**: Guidance or magical aid
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5. **Crossing the Threshold**: Commitment to the journey
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6. **Tests, Allies, and Enemies**: Learning the rules of the new world
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7. **Approach to the Inmost Cave**: Preparation for major challenge
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8. **Ordeal**: Greatest fear/challenge faced
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9. **Reward**: Achievement of goal or new knowledge
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10. **The Road Back**: Return journey begins
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11. **Resurrection**: Final test with everything at stake
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12. **Return with the Elixir**: Hero returns transformed
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## Save the Cat Beat Sheet (Blake Snyder)
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1. **Opening Image**: Snapshot of protagonist's world before change
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2. **Theme Stated**: Central question or theme introduced
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3. **Setup**: Establish protagonist's world, flaws, and stakes
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4. **Catalyst**: Event that starts the story (at 10% mark)
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5. **Debate**: Internal conflict about whether to act
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6. **Break into Two**: Protagonist commits to journey (at 20-25% mark)
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7. **B Story**: Subplot introduced (often romantic or thematic)
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8. **Fun and Games**: Promise of the premise delivered
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9. **Midpoint**: False victory or defeat (at 50% mark)
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10. **Bad Guys Close In**: External and internal pressure increases
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11. **All Is Lost**: Lowest point (at 75% mark)
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12. **Dark Night of the Soul**: Protagonist processes loss
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13. **Break into Three**: Solution discovered (at 80% mark)
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14. **Finale**: Climax and resolution
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15. **Final Image**: Parallel to opening showing change
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## Character Arc Templates
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### Positive Change Arc
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- **Lie Believed**: Character starts believing something false about themselves/world
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- **Want vs. Need**: What they think they want vs. what they actually need
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- **Ghost/Wound**: Past trauma influencing present behavior
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- **Moment of Truth**: Forced to choose between lie and truth
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- **Resolution**: Embraces truth and grows
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### Flat Arc
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- **Truth Known**: Character already knows the truth
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- **World's Lie**: The world around them believes a lie
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- **Testing**: Character's truth is challenged repeatedly
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- **Impact**: Character changes the world around them
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- **Affirmation**: Character's truth proven correct
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### Negative Arc
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- **Initial Weakness**: Character has a flaw or belief
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- **Escalation**: Flaw grows worse through choices
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- **Point of No Return**: Character chooses darkness
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- **Descent**: Consequences spiral
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- **Tragic End**: Character destroyed or becomes antagonist
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## Scene Structure
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### Scene Components
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1. **Goal**: What the POV character wants in this scene
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2. **Conflict**: Opposition to achieving the goal
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3. **Disaster**: Outcome (usually negative) that propels to next scene
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### Sequel Components (reaction to scene)
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1. **Reaction**: Emotional response to disaster
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2. **Dilemma**: Working through options
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3. **Decision**: Choice that leads to next goal/scene
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## Pacing Guidelines
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### Chapter Length by Genre
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- **Thriller/Mystery**: 2,000-3,000 words (faster pace)
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- **Fantasy/Sci-Fi**: 3,000-5,000 words (world-building needs)
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- **Romance**: 2,500-4,000 words (emotional beats)
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- **Literary Fiction**: 2,000-6,000 words (varies widely)
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- **YA**: 2,000-3,500 words (shorter attention span)
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### Tension Management
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- **High-tension scenes**: Action, conflict, revelations (shorter, punchier)
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- **Low-tension scenes**: Character development, world-building (can be longer)
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- **Rhythm**: Alternate between high and low tension
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- **Overall trend**: Tension should increase as story progresses
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## Plot Development
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### Conflict Types
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1. **Character vs. Character**: Antagonist opposition
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2. **Character vs. Self**: Internal struggle
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3. **Character vs. Society**: Against norms/systems
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4. **Character vs. Nature**: Environmental challenges
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5. **Character vs. Technology**: Man vs. machine
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6. **Character vs. Fate**: Against destiny/prophecy
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### Subplot Integration
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- **Mirror subplots**: Reflect main theme differently
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- **Contrast subplots**: Show opposite approach to theme
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- **Complication subplots**: Add obstacles to main plot
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- **Resolution rule**: Resolve minor subplots before climax, major ones during/after
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## Genre-Specific Structures
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### Mystery/Thriller
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- Introduction of crime/mystery
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- Investigation and clue discovery
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- Red herrings and misdirection
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- Escalating danger
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- Revelation and confrontation
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- Resolution and explanation
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### Romance
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- Meet-cute or introduction
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- Attraction develops
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- Barrier/conflict introduced
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- Relationship deepens despite obstacles
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- Black moment/breakup
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- Grand gesture/reconciliation
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- Happy ending or HEA (Happily Ever After)
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### Fantasy/Sci-Fi
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- Ordinary world establishment
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- Introduction to magical/sci-fi elements
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- Quest or mission defined
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- Journey and world exploration
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- Building towards prophesied/anticipated event
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- Final battle or confrontation
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- New world order established
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