Another Approach to Story Structure

I'm a big fan of story structure. It can be a big help to figuring out how to put a story together in a way that works. Not that structure needs to be followed in a slavish way, or that one structure applies to every story.
But it can help.

The book "Fantasy Fiction Formula" advises testing your story premise like this -

When A SITUATION happens, a PROTAGONIST embarks on their OBJECTIVE. But will they be able to achieve it when THE ANTAGONIST forces the STORY CLIMAX?

These two sentences, once the blanks are filled in, also works as a story blurb - something that might appear on the back of a novel, or advertisement for the story.

The SITUATION is the thing that happens to upset the status quo.
The PROTAGONIST is the main character.
The OBJECTIVE is the story goal.
The OPPONENT is the Antagonist - the one working against the Protagonist.
The CLIMAX is the final struggle at the end of the story.

So some sample plot sentences would be these:

When HIS DAUGHTER IS KIDNAPPED, (situation)
INTELLIGENCE AGENT BUCK JONES (protagonist)
HUNTS DOWN THE KIDNAPPERS. (objective)
But can he save his daughter's life when
SENATOR SAM SMITH (opponent)
FORCES HIM TO CHOOSE BETWEEN HER LIFE AND HIS OTHER DAUGHTER'S LIFE? (climax)

I guess Buck has two daughters and Senator Smith will force a choice. This was off the top of my head and
I wanted to think of the ultimate conflict for the climax.

Another one might be something like this…

When her powers are taken from her, Good Witch Mari
investigates the cause in order to find a cure.
But can she regain her abilities and save the city she loves
when Bad Witch Vera forces a battle to the death between them?

Hmm…I guess this one ends with a depowered good witch fighting a powered bad witch? That could be cool.

Anyway, this is an approach I haven't tried yet in order to write a story…it seems like a good approach to testing a story idea to see how solid it is.


"Fantasy Fiction Formula" is by author Deborah Chester.


See you next time!



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