Story Structure: How to Write a Compelling Novel
When I first started my debut novel, I knew nothing about story structure. In fact, I knew nothing about writing fiction at all.
Zip. Zilch. Nada.
So what did I do?
I researched. And I learned there is so much more to writing a novel than I ever dreamed.
Luckily, I also learned it’s my passion! But it took a lot of trial and error for me to figure out how to write.
Here was my beginning process:
Research. Research. And research some more.
Study, break down, and analyze my favorite stories.
Outline. A lot.
Write.
But here’s what happened: After spending a crazy ton of time researching, and months outlining my novel, I kept getting stuck. I’d write a few thousand words, decide I wanted to change everything, and restart. Then I’d do it again.
The bad news is that if you’re brand new to writing, this might be a necessary learning process. To some extent.
It took me time and lots of words to find my novel’s heart.
But the good news is that understanding the basics of story structure can cut your learning curve dramatically. If you use this story structure process below, you could have a story you’re proud of in no time at all!
Because you can feel confident in the most important beats your story needs to hit in order to be smooth, compelling, and strong.
By the time I started outlining my next books and diving into the drafting process for a new novel, the words flowed.
Eventually, I will get into the nitty-gritty of each step of your story’s structure. But fair warning, there are lots of approaches concerning how to structure your story.
How do you decide what story structure to use?
For me? I simply found one that worked for me and I’ve stuck with it.
Some people swear by Save the Cat, which I’ve never looked into (but it’s on my list! I am continually learning and increasing my knowledge about the craft of writing). (As I’m updating this blog post I can now say I’ve read and studied Save the Cat! quite extensively!)
The structure I use for my books, and what I’m outlining below, is based on the 3-Act Structure.
I spent a lot of time, in the beginning, learning this structure from K.M. Weiland, whose blog I highly recommend checking out.
For the purposes of this post, I am going to be giving a brief overview. The beats below are what I look at when I sit down to a new story. I fill in the blanks and then go. It’s a process that makes me feel like I have my feet on solid ground and creates a story with a strong backbone.
It’s also adaptable.
I am mostly a pantser. I thought I was certainly a plotter (which is why I spent months outlining my first book) but through the process of just putting my fingers to the keyboard, I learned that the magic happens when I just sit down and write.
I threw out the detailed scene-by-scene breakdown I had spent months constructing and just let the words flow.
If that sounds like you, this story structure I’m about to explain can provide you with the skeleton of your novel. Just enough to start moving.
But it can also allow you to outline in as much detail as you’d like within the simple framework. It’s totally up to you! Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that every author’s process is different.
So without further ado, let’s get into Story Structure 101.
This is the framework I use when outlining my novels. It makes the writing process SO much easier.
As an overview, these are the main points:
ACT ONE: (comprises approximately the first 25% of your novel)
The Hook
The Inciting Event
The First Plot Point
ACT TWO, PART ONE: (comprises approximately the following 25% of your novel)'
The First Pinch Point
The Midpoint
ACT TWO, PART TWO: (you guessed it - the next 25% (give or take))
The Second Pinch Point
ACT THREE: (and the last 25%)
The Third Plot Point
The Climax (including the Climactic Moment)
The Resolution
Story Structure Plot Point 1: The Hook
The hook is the first beat in the story structure, and the first opportunity to catch the reader’s attention and convince them to read on. Ideally, it should be situated on the first page. Possibly even the first line.
Helpful Tips:
Think about starting your book 15 minutes before the Inciting Incident (Plot Point 2). It’s a good rule of thumb that has helped me gain my bearings and have an idea of the big question: Where do I start?
Try not to hook the reader by choosing a character who is NOT your main character as the jumping-off point.
Sometimes this works, but more often than not (especially for new writers) it’s difficult to move smoothly into the main character’s point of view after you’ve started with someone else.
For a long time, I was convinced I needed to start my book from the villain’s perspective. It took a lot of learning and rewriting before I finally came to the conclusion it was not the strongest beginning.
Just because an event seems exciting, doesn’t necessarily make it right for the beginning of your book.
Plot Point 2: The Inciting Incident
The easiest way to think of this Plot Point is to identify when your main character first encounters the main conflict. What starts the story in motion? This falls about halfway through the first act (although this Plot Point’s placement is particularly loose - some Inciting Incidents happen in the first scene) and sets up who/what will be the antagonistic force driving your story.
Helpful Tips:
The most important thing to keep in mind is that the Inciting Incident asks a question that your Climactic Moment will answer.
It was SO rewarding having my very first beta reader tell me how much she liked a seemingly insignificant setting/moment that returned in the climax. It bookends the story in a way that ties everything together beautifully.Your antagonist needs to be present in the Inciting Incident, whether physically or in some other form. For example, perhaps your main character is witnessing a consequence of the villain’s tyranny (even if the villain is not physically present).
Think of what gets the ball rolling for your story. For example, Legally Blonde, Elle being dumped sets up her story.
Plot Point 3: The First Plot Point
An easy one to spot. The First Plot Point comes at the 25% mark and signifies the end of the first act.
This is where everything changes for your protagonist. They are dragged into the story (the Story World) once and for all. No turning back. Think Harry Potter boarding the train to Hogwarts or Katniss Everdeen entering the arena.
Helpful Tips:
The story before this point is setting up the Normal World (supporting characters, setting, and, most importantly, stakes).
This usually (but not always) involves a change of setting. If your protagonist does NOT change environments, what other change signifies their entrance into the Story World?
Plot Point 4: The First Pinch Point
The First & Second Pinch Points are simply your protagonist brushing shoulders with the antagonist. They keep the middle of your book from sagging!
As such, the First Pinch Point typically falls halfway through the first part of the second act (between the First Plot Point and the Midpoint).
Helpful Examples:
(Contains SPOILERS for The Hunger Games)
Woody accidentally knocking Buzz out the window. (In this instance, the antagonist is Woody’s anger/jealousy/insecurity). Sid, the personified antagonist, is also introduced immediately before this scene.
The wall of fire coming for Katniss and the careers chasing her up a tree (the game makers are the story’s main antagonist—she faces off with them in the climax when she defies the capitol with the berries).
Story Structure Plot Point 5: The Midpoint
The Midpoint falls right smack dab in the middle of your story. It takes your story and spins it in a different direction by forcing a Moment of Truth (basically, an insight that helps them reevaluate things, including their Lie and Truth) on your protagonist, causing her to start getting proactive.
Helpful Tips & Examples:
Your antagonist should again be present in this plot point in some form or another.
In Captain America: Winter Soldier, Steve learns at the halfway point that the Nazi organization Hydra has infiltrated SHIELD. After this, he switches into proactive mode as the real villain has been revealed.
Plot Point 6: The Second Pinch Point
(Contains SPOILERS for The Hunger Games)
Another encounter with antagonistic force to keep the story moving. This story structure plot point falls halfway through the second half of the second act. (The Pinch Points are actually a great opportunity to go deep with your story.)
Helpful Examples:
Woody gets the attention of the other toys across the street, but they turn their backs on him when they see Buzz’s dismembered arm, causing him to lose his chance of escape.
Rue is killed in front of Katniss.
Plot Point 7: The Third Plot Point
The Third Plot Point is the lowest point for your protagonist. A chance to force them into their darkest moment.
This is necessary for her to pick herself up and come at the antagonist stronger than ever. This signals the end of the second act (75% through), breaking open the last part of your story.
Helpful Tips & Examples:
(Contains SPOILERS for Doctor Strange)
Have your character face a win before this. Then, when the worst hits them and they think they can’t get any lower, throw something else at ‘em.
During the Third Plot Point, Doctor Strange battles the antagonist Kaecilius, witnesses the death of his mentor The Ancient One, AND when he thinks it can’t get any lower, breaks up with his girl.
Story Structure Plot Point 8: The Climax
This is what your story has been leading up to.
It’s where the conflict is resolved for good. The climax will typically start at about the 90% mark, with the Climactic Moment happening at the very end. After this, there will only be one or two scenes to tie up your story (the Resolution).
Helpful Tips:
It needs to be said again: make sure your Climactic Moment is answering the question you presented in your Inciting Incident. After this, your readers will have no more questions. Your story’s mystery is solved.
Your protagonist faces off against the antagonist once and for all.
There should be a point in your story where the reader is absolutely convinced there is no way out for your protagonist. (At least no way they can see.) She’s done for (not necessarily meaning death, but rather in her fight against the antagonist—often this does include life or death situations).
Plot Point 9: The Resolution
Give your protagonist a chance to breathe. It’s fun for your reader to see how they react to the events of the Climax, or how they’re adjusting to life afterward.
Figure out how she’s becoming different. How she’s grown. How the world around her has changed and what her future looks like. And show your reader.
And that’s it! The end of your story.
Again, I LOVE this framework because it literally is a one-page snapshot of your story.
I can have all of the plot points laid out and rearrange them easily so that all the pieces tie together. I can make sure all the right characters are present in the most important moments, and I can guarantee that my story is continually moving forward.
The fastest way to write a strong story is with an effective outline that plots your novel’s beating heart.
In Outline Your Novel, you’ll learn exactly what these beats are, why they matter, and how to outline them effectively to make your story sing.
