Solid Story Structure. What is it? If you wish to write a satisfying fictional story for your readers, then you must learn the specific elements or ‘Plot Points’ that nearly all Popular Fiction stories share. Using our Free Plot Sketch Template, included in our post, How to Plot Your Fictional Novel, you will be able to identify the various turning points in both movies and books and keep your own stories on track from beginning to end.

Plot is one of the 7 elements of historical fiction. In the original post outlining these seven elements, I wrote: … the plot has to make sense for the time period. And plot will often be shaped around or by the historical events taking place at that time. This is particularly true when writing about […]

If you're going through a challenging time, try memoir therapy, and start to write your way to a happier life. Here's how I did it.

Many writers believe they can just sit down and write whatever pops into their head. However, most Popular Fiction contains specific components or “Plot Points” that serve to move a story forward from beginning to end. In our Learn to Plot Fiction Writing Series: Story Analysis of Disney's “Beauty and the Beast” we will show you how to recognize each element and provide you with a Free Plot Template so you can draft satisfying, high-quality stories of your own.

What is a plot structure, and how do you choose the best one for your story? Learn how to structure a novel with classic and alternative plot structures.

Rising action in a story is where the protagonist faces challenges and must overcome obstacles to achieve their goal. Click to see examples and more!

Fiction refers to imaginative stories or events that are not based on reality, while nonfiction presents factual information or accounts of real events.

Why the middle of your novel needs 3 dramatic rescue scenes.

Click to read this huge list of great ghost story ideas that you can use to spark inspiration for your own ghost story!

Storytelling Tip: Move your story through time and space with smooth transitions. Drop clues to let readers know where and when each scene takes place.

Here are a five important questions you, as a writer of fiction, can ask yourself to help you in making story structure your own.

The Hero's Journey - 3gEN 14/15

You’ve probably heard about raising the stakes, that important craft tool to deepen the reasons the events of the novel matter to your protagonist(s), and thus the reader. But what does it mean to “crystalize” the stakes? Crystalizing the stakes gets less attention, but it’s a powerful tool to focus the plot and evoke meaning […]

Writers, it's time to discuss one of my favorite storytelling topics: plot structure. Today, in particular, we're going to break down a structure originally outlined by mythologist Joseph Campbell in his book The Hero With a Thousand Faces. The Hero's Journey is a classic plot structure that appears in many speculative fiction books, films, television shows, and other forms of media.

This EDITABLE extended plot structure & elements diagram is designed to work with ANY fiction text (novel, short story, etc.) and help students analyze and understand the deeper meaning of the text! This resource also works well as a study guide and classroom decor. NOTE: This resource is includ...

The best way to learn story structure is to analyze good stories. Can you readily identify each plot point in every movie you see or book you read? Or do terms like ‘inciting incident,’ ‘midpoint reversal,’ and ‘black moment’ leave you confused? In our Learn to Plot Fiction Writing Series: Story Analysis of the movie “Jurassic World” we show you how to recognize each element and provide a Free Plot Template so you can draft satisfying, high-quality stories of your own.

The best way to learn story structure is to analyze good stories. Can you readily identify each plot point in every movie you see or book you read? Or do terms like ‘inciting incident,’ ‘midpoint reversal,’ and ‘black moment’ leave you confused? In our Learn to Plot Fiction Writing Series: Story Analysis of the movie “Signs” we will show you how to recognize each element and provide you with a Free Plot Template so you can draft satisfying, high-quality stories of your own.

As an aspiring writer, you may have heard of plot points, pinch points, inciting incident, temporary triumph, black moment, and the climax in traditional story structure, but can you readily identify them in every movie you see or book you read? In our post Fiction Writing: Story Analysis of the movie “Passengers” we will show you how to recognize each element and provide you with a Free Plot Template so you can draft satisfying, high-quality stories of your own.

Primer is a 2004 American independent psychological science fiction film about the accidental discovery of time travel. The film was written, directed, produced, edited and scored by Shane Carruth, who also stars with David Sullivan. Primer is of note for its experimental plot structure, philosophical implications, and complex technical dialogue.