Writing with Structure

Got story structure? When somebody gets the idea of writing a story, it usually starts with a small element. Maybe they think of a “what if” scenario, or a character comes to mind, or maybe a movie you watched inspired an enchanted world you want to build for an epic fantasy series.

The idea of writing a book is one thing, while actually writing it is quite another. It’s more time consuming than most realize and will easily take you twice as long when you don’t think it through. That’s where writing with structure comes in.

In the planning stages of a book, when you outline or plot, you’re looking at the steps to take your character on a journey. They need to go from one point in their lives to another. Something needs to happen. They need to go through a change. That’s the entire purpose of a well-told story, change. 

We fictionalize our characters and send them on a quest or an internal battle to bring them from one moment to another. Without change or growth, the story becomes stagnant and drags. 

Many authors ask their writing friends, “are you a plotter or a pantser” in casual conversation. What they’re asking is if they write a story by planning it, or just winging it and making it up as they go. Everybody forms their own path, but when it comes to new authors, understanding story structure can greatly help you from painting yourself into a corner with no way out.

Story structure (also called novel structure, book structure, or plot structure) is the standard path that a fiction book takes. Now, that doesn’t mean all stories are the same. It’s the characters and elements of your book that make it uniquely yours. While each story offers a gradual build-up of situations, how your character reacts to those situations is a big piece of where originality comes in. 

You’ll hear people talk about different ways to outline. You may hear phrases like story structure, the Hero’s Journey, plotting charts, and beat sheets. There are steps you take that guide your story in the right direction, so you don’t go too far off track. When it comes to story, there’s a certain gratification when it’s told this way. 

Our brain receptors are trained to tell and enjoy stories. And when they follow a particular path, we anticipate what comes next. This is a good thing. Don’t think of it as predictable. It doesn’t mean you can’t have twists and turns in your story, it just means that things happen at set points, so the story follows the proper trajectory that will lead to a satisfying journey.

If you’re new to the writing world and trying to craft a story, understanding structure is an important part of getting it right. It doesn’t mean you need to plot your story down to the very last detail, but understanding plot structure will help gently guide you into writing a complete story.

Let’s face it, structure matters. Did you ever read a book and it seemed to go nowhere? Nothing happens. It’s like the author got so involved in their own details, the story itself got lost. When it comes to structure, it’s the path that keeps you on track. 

Your character starts at Point A. They want something. They really want something…and they still haven’t gotten it. What’s stopped them? These are all questions that show you where and how to start a story.

For your character to get to Point B, they need to change. That means that while they wanted something, they’ve taken an action to seek out that something. There will be challenges along the way. If it’s too easy, they won’t grow and change. That’s boring. 

Picture this: Tony wants to go to the store. He gets in his car and drives to the store. (He got what he wanted, without challenge or conflict.)

This is boring. Those obstacles that create conflict and challenges, whether physical or mental, force our character to try new ways of getting what he wants. Your character’s desire should be important, or nobody will care if he reaches his goal. The idea is to make your reader invested in what happens to your character. 

But, what if the store was about to explode and his wife and child were there. He heard about it on the news. Now, he’s in a mad rush to get to the store in time to save his family. Suddenly, we’re sitting up in our chairs and paying attention. His want is big. It’s important. The problem is that there are obstacles on the way… Do you see how this story is already more interesting than the story about him simply driving to the store? 

By using story structure, you use elements that help you build the story to the proper pace which will build up to a crescendo and then offer a satisfying ending. By simply guessing along the way, you’ll leave out important tidbits that help build the tension and conflict that readers desire.

There’s no one right way to structure a story. There are many paths that lead to the same place. The point is that structure is the scaffolding of your book. It gives you a frame to work from. Whether you prefer a straight linear path, more of a cluster to brainstorm your structure, or maybe you prefer your story to look like a giant M, you’ll need to play around with a few ideas to find what clicks. 

Some people are more visual and like to draw it out. A sketch of your timeline may trigger ideas. Beat sheets are helpful in that they offer you an idea of where you should be in a story based on how many words into it you are. Other styles give you percentages. By the half-way point, this should be happening. 

Let’s look at a few resources you may find helpful when planning your outline. Did I just say the O word? I slipped it in there. I didn’t think you’d notice. Yes, plotting and outlining are quite the same thing. But, it doesn’t have to be some 10,000 word structure. A loose structure like a sentence or two about what happens in each chapter may be enough for you. Other people thrive and live in those bigger details and want to piece things together before writing. Again, you’ll find your own path the more time you spend writing.

Here are a handful of books that are well worth your time when you’re ready to dig deeper into structure. Each has its own strength. I highly recommend you take a peek at one of these, because they’ll speak to you in different ways. 

John Truby’s “Anatomy of Story” is one of the best books I’ve found on plot and structure. If you’re a romance writer, “Romancing the Beat” is a favorite among romance authors. Lisa Cron and Larry Brooks are great for those that love to dig into details, while Randy Ingersol’s book is great for brainstorming. Anything by James Scott Bell is dynamic and helpful, and K.M. Weiland has a way with words that help you get it. Libby Hawker’s book takes the idea of Truby’s book, and breaks it down in easy to understand bites. People like the accessibility of it, and have a lot of aha moments.

There are so many great books that could be added to this list, but starting here will give you a nice head start. Also, look up Christopher Vogler’s book that analyzes the hero’s journey, “The Writer’s Journey.” Add Robert McKee’s “Story: Substance, Structure, Style ..” to your to-be-read list, and Blake Snyder’s “Save the Cat!” while you’re at it. It’s hard not to get excited by the incredible wealth of information available at your fingertips.

Links provided above are Amazon affiliate links.

One of the things that people question is all the different terms that are used when talking about writing stories. While they can be used interchangeably in finer detail let’s break down what each is technically.

Story Structure is the elements that should occur in your story to create a full, well-balanced path that leads a reader through a journey from start to finish. Think of things like the beginning, middle, and end. A climax scene and an inciting incident are other elements each book should include. You simply need to know that you’ve got each of these while you’re plotting.

An outline is the steps you take from beginning to end. In this case, you’ll be thinking more in terms of this happens in chapter one. This happens in chapter two. Outlining paves your path and makes sure things are in the proper order when you write your story.

Whether you call it story structure, plot structure, novel structure or book structure, it’s not about repeating a story that’s already been told. People often worry that their story won’t be original if they follow structure, but what they don’t realize is that there’s comfort in knowing that things happen in certain orders. 

Hit your climax too early, and the end of the story will drag. Don’t hit your inciting incident soon enough, and you’re in for a slog. Where does your character change? How do they grow? If your change doesn’t happen at the right time in the story, it feels off to the reader. They don’t quite know why it feels off, but it’s because we’re programmed to expect stories to play out in certain ways. It’s comforting. We choose books that we like for specific reasons. One of those reasons is due to story structure. 

In a murder mystery, we want justice served. If it’s not, we’re left feeling let down. In a romance, a happy ending is expected. If you don’t follow the proper structure, the story feels weak and the reward at the end falls flat. In a horror book, we want to hang onto the edge of our seats. If you give up the ghost at the wrong point, the entire rest of the book lacks the suspense the reader hoped for.

Structure is there to keep your story on a familiar path, but it doesn’t mean your journey will be predictable. Remember, it’s in the original characters, settings, themes, and challenges where your story will bloom and hold your reader captive until the end.

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