Jun 15, 2024
Hero’s Journey (Joseph Campbell)
- Ordinary World: The hero’s normal life before the adventure begins.
- Call to Adventure: The hero is presented with a challenge or quest.
- Refusal of the Call: The hero hesitates or declines the adventure.
- Meeting the Mentor: The hero encounters a mentor who provides guidance.
- Crossing the Threshold: The hero leaves the ordinary world and enters the special world.
- Tests, Allies, Enemies: The hero faces challenges, makes friends, and confronts foes.
- Approach to Inmost Cave: The hero approaches the central ordeal or crisis.
- Ordeal, Death, and Rebirth: The hero faces a significant challenge, often involving a metaphorical death and rebirth.
- Reward (Seizing the Sword): The hero gains a reward or accomplishes a goal.
- The Road Back: The hero begins the journey back to the ordinary world.
- Resurrection: The hero faces a final test, using everything learned on the journey.
- Return with the Elixir: The hero returns home with newfound wisdom or a reward to help others.
The Virgin’s Promise (Kim Hudson)
- Dependent World: The protagonist’s world where they conform to others’ expectations.
- Price of Conformity: The cost the protagonist pays for fitting in.
- Opportunity to Shine: The protagonist gets a chance to express their true self.
- Dresses the Part: The protagonist begins to adopt their true identity.
- Secret World: The protagonist creates a space where they can be their true self.
- No Longer Fits In: The protagonist starts to outgrow their old world.
- Caught Shining: The protagonist’s true self is discovered by others.
- Gives Up What Kept Her Stuck: The protagonist lets go of constraints holding them back.
- Kingdom in Chaos: The protagonist’s world is disrupted by their changes.
- Wanders in the Wilderness: The protagonist faces a period of doubt and uncertainty.
- Chooses Her Light: The protagonist fully embraces their true self.
- Re-ordering of the Kingdom: The protagonist’s world adjusts to their new identity.
- The Kingdom is Brighter: The protagonist’s true self brings positive change to their world.
Plot Structure (Larry Brooks)
- Setup: Introduction of characters, setting, and initial conflict.
- Hook: A compelling opening that grabs the audience’s attention.
- Inciting Incident: An event that disrupts the protagonist’s normal life and sets the story in motion.
- First Plot Point: A significant event that changes the protagonist’s direction and raises the stakes.
- Response: The protagonist’s reaction to the first plot point, leading to further developments.
- Pinch Point 1: A reminder of the story’s central conflict, increasing tension.
- Midpoint: A major turning point that shifts the story’s direction and deepens the conflict.
- Pinch Point 2: Another reminder of the central conflict, heightening stakes.
- Second Plot Point: A crucial event that leads to the story’s climax.
- Resolution: The final outcome and resolution of the story’s conflicts.
Three-Act Structure (Syd Field)
- Setup: Introduction of characters, setting, and the story’s premise.
- Inciting Incident: An event that disrupts the protagonist’s normal life and sets the story in motion.
- First Turning Point: A significant event that changes the protagonist’s direction and raises the stakes.
- Midpoint: A major turning point that shifts the story’s direction and deepens the conflict.
- Second Turning Point: Another significant event that propels the story toward its climax.
- Climax: The story’s peak moment of conflict and resolution.
- Resolution: The final outcome and resolution of the story’s conflicts.
Blake Snyder Beat Sheet
- Opening Image: The first visual that sets the tone and mood of the story.
- Theme Stated: A statement or question that reveals the story’s theme.
- Setup: Introduction of characters, setting, and the story’s premise.
- Catalyst: An event that disrupts the protagonist’s normal life and sets the story in motion.
- Debate: The protagonist faces a dilemma and must decide whether to take on the challenge.
- Break into Two: The protagonist commits to the journey, entering a new world or state.
- B Story: A subplot that runs parallel to the main story, often involving a relationship.
- Fun and Games: The protagonist experiences the new world and faces various challenges.
- Midpoint: A major turning point that shifts the story’s direction and deepens the conflict.
- Bad Guys Close In: The protagonist faces increased opposition and higher stakes.
- All is Lost: The protagonist hits rock bottom and faces their greatest challenge.
- Break into Three: The protagonist finds a solution and prepares for the final battle.
- Finale: The story’s peak moment of conflict and resolution.
- Final Image: The last visual that reflects the story’s resolution and theme.
Seven-Point Structure (Dan Wells)
- Hook: A compelling opening that grabs the audience’s attention.
- Plot Turn 1: An event that disrupts the protagonist’s normal life and sets the story in motion.
- Pinch Point 1: A reminder of the story’s central conflict, increasing tension.
- Midpoint: A major turning point that shifts the story’s direction and deepens the conflict.
- Pinch Point 2: Another reminder of the central conflict, heightening stakes.
- Plot Turn 2: A crucial event that leads to the story’s climax.
- Resolution: The final outcome and resolution of the story’s conflicts.
Freytag’s Pyramid (Gustav Freytag)
- Exposition: Introduction of characters, setting, and the story’s premise.
- Rising Action: A series of events that build tension and lead to the climax.
- Climax: The story’s peak moment of conflict and resolution.
- Falling Action: Events that occur after the climax, leading to the resolution.
- Denouement: The final outcome and resolution of the story’s conflicts.
Kishōtenketsu
- Introduction (Ki): Introduction of characters, setting, and the story’s premise.
- Development (Sho): A series of events that build tension and lead to the twist.
- Twist (Ten): A surprising turn of events that changes the story’s direction.
- Conclusion (Ketsu): The final outcome and resolution of the story’s conflicts.
Four Act Structure (Randy Ingermanson)
- Setup: Introduction of characters, setting, and the story’s premise.
- Response: The protagonist’s reaction to the first plot point, leading to further developments.
- Attack: The protagonist takes action to confront the central conflict.
- Resolution: The final outcome and resolution of the story’s conflicts.
Lester Dent Formula
- Introduction: Introduction of characters, setting, and the story’s premise.
- Development: A series of events that build tension and lead to complications.
- Complication: Further complications that heighten the stakes.
- Further Complication: Even more complications that lead to the climax.
- Denouement: The final outcome and resolution of the story’s conflicts.
Story Circle (Dan Harmon)
- You: A character is in a zone of comfort.
- Need: But they want something.
- Go: Enter an unfamiliar situation.
- Search: Adapt to it.
- Find: Find what they wanted.
- Take: Pay its price.
- Return: And go back to where they started.
- Change: Now capable of change.
Stasis-Trigger-The Quest-Surprise-Critical Choice-Climax-Reversal-Resolution (Seven Point Plot Structure)
- Stasis: The protagonist’s normal life before the adventure begins.
- Trigger: An event that disrupts the protagonist’s normal life and sets the story in motion.
- The Quest: The protagonist’s journey to achieve a goal or solve a problem.
- Surprise: Unexpected events or complications that change the story’s direction.
- Critical Choice: The protagonist faces a significant decision that determines the story’s outcome.
- Climax: The story’s peak moment of conflict and resolution.
- Reversal: A turn of events that changes the protagonist’s situation.
- Resolution: The final outcome and resolution of the story’s conflicts.
3-Act Structure (Aristotle)
- Beginning: Introduction of characters, setting, and the story’s premise.
- Middle: A series of events that build tension and lead to the climax.
- End: The final outcome and resolution of the story’s conflicts.
5-Act Structure (Horace)
- Protasis: Introduction of characters, setting, and the story’s premise.
- Epitasis: A series of events that build tension and lead to the climax.
- Catastrophe: The story’s peak moment of conflict and resolution.
- Denouement: Events that occur after the climax, leading to the resolution.
- Unraveling: The final outcome and resolution of the story’s conflicts.
3-Act Structure (Traditional)
- Act 1: Introduction of characters, setting, and the story’s premise.
- Act 2 (First Half): A series of events that build tension and lead to the midpoint.
- Act 2 (Second Half): Further complications that heighten the stakes.
- Act 3: The story’s peak moment of conflict and resolution.
Pixar Story Structure
- Once upon a time: Introduction of characters, setting, and the story’s premise.
- Every day: The protagonist’s normal life.
- But one day: An event that disrupts the protagonist’s normal life and sets the story in motion.
- Because of that: A series of events that build tension and lead to complications.
- Until finally: The story’s peak moment of conflict and resolution.
- And ever since then: The final outcome and resolution of the story’s conflicts.