Find it in classics like The Lord of the Rings, The Odyssey, and the more recent Finding Nemo. The QuestĪ story archetype that takes many shapes, The Quest is a plot where a hero embarks on a journey to discover something and eventually finds success through trials and tribulations. You’ll recognize it from Jane Eyre, The Ugly Duckling, and Cinderella. In this classic plot line, the primary character begins in a situation of poverty or despair and rises to a higher status of wealth and success. Examples include Beowulf, Jaws, and David & Goliath. This is an underdog story where the main character sets out to destroy a greater evil of some kind. A story archetype is a basic plot focusing on the type of journey the story takes, and the obstacles characters overcome.Īs defined by scholar Christopher Booker, all stories and character arcs fall under seven main story archetypes. Now that you know the basics of a story structure sequence, let’s look at another structural aspect that can help shape your book. Christopher Booker’s seven story archetypes The ending should close the loop on all crises, plot twists, and loose ends but could also leave the reader wanting more. Success or failure are both valid outcomes, but the ending should provide a conclusion and resolution to your story. The final stage of the story structure is the ending or close. The climax is not the end of the book but the beginning of the end. At this stage, the character has hit rock bottom in the storyline–hopeless and seemingly out of options. Depending on your perspective, you can also think of the climax as the bottom of your action. Stage four is the climax or the height of the crisis. If the character experiences more than one crisis, each should build on the last, heightening the sense of danger and tension. ![]() A crisis must be realistic and related to the plot. CrisisĪs a consequence of the incident, the story’s crisis is an unfolding of the primary conflict or series of issues. As the catalyst or instigating force that compels your main character to act, the incident establishes the conflict that sets the stage for the third phase of a story’s structure. A compelling opener teases readers with what challenges or conflicts are ahead. The opener establishes your story’s setting, premise, plot, and character roles. While these are most often used to describe written storytelling, you can easily use this structure to push a visually-driven story along. The linear storyline shapes the flow of events (rising action, climax, and resolution) while establishing the book’s setting and plot.īefore we get into the different story archetypes and narrative types, there are a few fundamental structural elements worth learning. ![]() Definition of story structureĪs the sequence and backbone of your book, story structure is the order in which you present the narrative. Of course, you’re here because you know the power of story structure-so let’s dive in. Cookbooks are another great example-you must take your readers through a narrative of thematically connected, delicious recipes and why the reader should care. But, you’re weaving a tale of your journey as an artist, photographer, or designer-and telling the story of who you are professionally. For example, a portfolio may feel like a collection of your best stand-alone work. Most people think of structuring only novels or documentary photo books, but all the most engaging and cohesive books take structure seriously. It also helps create tension, suspense, and surprise-essential components of almost any story. ![]() Story structure helps guide your audience from the beginning to the end of your book by introducing characters and settings, setting up the conflict, developing the main plot points, and finally resolving that conflict. It is the way storytellers create a path for their narrative, with its peaks and valleys, twists and turns. Story structure is an essential element of any book-whether you’re a fiction writer, photographer, or even cookbook author.
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