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Structure Chart (From Chapter 9 of Writing Genre Fiction: A Guide to the Craft)
The following chart illustrates the main points of a novel as described in this chapter. When writing your novel, it may be helpful to create a similar chart and fill in the details.
| Title |
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- No real rules, except don't make it too long. Many titles are just one word.
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Prologue |
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- Four types (background, different point-of-views, past protagonist, future protagonist)
- Prologue test
|
Beginning |
Initial Setup |
- Exposition
- Hook
- Main characters
- Setting
|
Big Event |
- The situation that launches the story (protagonist is thrust into the action)
- Involves conflict
- Establishes the story goal
- Establishes the story's direction
|
Middle |
Complications
(Plots, Points, Reversals) |
- Tries to achieve his/her goal
- Obstacles are introduced
- Disasters occur
|
Crisis (Pinch) |
- A showdown becomes inevitable
- Comes to realize that he/she must take a stand (there are only two choices)
- Agonizes over which of the two courses of action to take
- Makes his/her decision
- Epiphany (revelation)
- Sets out to do final battle (the climax)
|
End |
Climax (Showdown) |
- The finest and biggest battle
- Highest point of tension
- Decides overall winner and loser
- Demonstrates internal change
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Resolution (Denouement) |
- Climax is over and story goal is answered
- Winners and losers are known
- Loose ends are wrapped up
- Characters have gained new insights that reflect their growth
- Theme is reinforced
- Symbolic event
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Epilogue
(Afterword) |
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- Seldom used
- Often deals with futures of characters
- Differs significantly from the main story in time or place or narrative style
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References
Based on Schnelbach, Susan D. and Christopher Scott Wyatt, Plots and Stories, Tameri Guide for Writers, http://www.temaeri.com/write/plotnstory.html. |
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