Activity

After last week’s look at plotting vs pantsing, I thought it would be a perfect time to look at what good plot structure looks like. This is the basic framework of how to have a structured story that has everything happening at the right times for the right reasons.

And it’s called the three act plot structure.

 

The three act plot structure is essentially splitting your novel into (you guessed it) three acts.

The first ‘act’ is the first quarter of your book, where you introduce the protagonist, the protagonist’s goal, and the problem (aka the villian + other story elements) that stand in the way of him reaching that goal.

The second ‘act’ is the middle half of the book. The plot really knuckles down and gets to work, and everything builds up toward the climax.

The third ‘act’ is the final quarter, with the explosive climax and the resolution to wrap everything up nicely.

 

There are nine key scenes that make up the structure and I’ll briefly outline those and then have a look at how structure helps your story be stronger.

 

• The Characteristic Moment

This is where you introduce the core of who your character is. You show what their ‘normal’ is, what they believe. This both lets the readers get to know him/her and also sets up the character arc nicely, because you can introduce the lie that your character believes. Showing what your character’s ‘normal’ is also contrasts nicely when the next major events of the story start and it’s anything but normal.

 

• The Inciting Event

This is where the ‘normal’ life gets thrown out the window and your main conflict is introduced. The rumour of an assassin group starts going around. The Big Important Thing is stolen. Something kicks the plot into gear and it starts whirring steadily.

 

• The 1st Plot Point

Up until this point, the protagonist is kind of involved, but this is the point of no return. Something happens that forces him to commit to the story goal no matter what.

 

• The 1st Major Test

Stories are a lot about throwing challenges at your characters, but this is one big one that is going to rock your protagonist’s world. It will both push them to doubt whether they can succeed, and it should also make them realise that there’s something faulty with their own belief. There’s a fatal flaw. They start to wonder if maybe ‘this other way’ might be better.

 

• The Midpoint

From this point, your protagonist stops reacting to what the villain does, and starts actively fighting back. He also starts trying to live according to the new belief, though this will still be very rocky and uncertain.

 

• The 2nd Major Test

This is basically the same as the 1st major test, but this time the protagonist will be more prepared and ready to react to this test. This will challenge their new belief, but they’ll stick to it.

Obviously, don’t forget to include more tests and trials in the plot than just these two major ones. 😉

 

• The Lowpoint

This is the darkest, most hopeless part of your story. It should look like the villain has won. Like there’s no way for the protagonist to succeed. But the protagonist can’t give up completely. They’ll recommit and plunge back in again more firmly convinced of their new belief and ready to act on it.

 

• The Climax

You all know what a climax is. It’s the biggest, explosive, most memorable scene in your novel where the protagonist finally succeeds (or fails) in his goal. You can’t skimp out on this scene. It has to be HUGE or else the readers will feel let down by the book as a whole. No pressure. 😛

 

• The Resolution

Wrap up all the loose ends, tie them in a bow, everyone lives happily ever after. The Resolution is also a great place to show the beginning of a new ‘normal’ but this time with the protagonist living according to his new belief and showing how that changes how he acts.

 

 

As you can see in there, there’s important elements of plot in each section, but there’s also important elements of theme as well. Plot and theme are inseparable when done well. Each outward event should impact on the inward belief, which then impacts what the character does outwardly, which then impacts what the character believes inwardly, etc.

 

You can actually check out the Resources page if you want to grab SE’s ready-made layout for the three act plot structure (as well as a bunch of other useful things), or you can just use this rough sketch I’ve laid out here.

 

The activity: Compare this structure to your book/outline and see how well they fit together. What is your characteristic moment and how does it introduce your protagonist’s personality, belief, and ‘normal’ world?

 

@esther-sears
@parker
@caleb-e-king
@jessi-rae
@theswordinthebook
@selah-chelyah
@thewirelessblade
@fctait
@professorsjb
@katthewriter
@lightning-spider
@skye
@mairin-atha
@e-b-raulands
@jillifish
@dakota
@brooka3
@scarletimmortalized
@joseph_darkgrate
@NicoleG
@theinconceivable1
@elizabeth