Let's Write One-of-a-kind Stories! discussion

Here I will analyse some of the most used story plotlines used in best-selling books! I will give you basic overviews of different ways to plot longer stories - novels, novellas, etc - and explain how to apply them to your story 😉!
(Note: to the members who are professional writers, this may not be very useful to you, as I am not exactly a professional!)
I will be happy to answer any questions you may have ❤️!

Sooooo, there are two story plotlines I would like to share with you guys:
- The Hero's Journey
- The Three-Act Story Structure
You might have heard of them! Which one do you want to learn about first 😉?

The Three-act Story Structure? I've heard of the Hero's Journey. It's one of the seven basic plots that are entwined through every story. Well, kind of. It's not listed there, but Quest and Voyage and Return could be similar.
1. Rags to Riches
2. Overcoming the monster
3. The Quest
4. Voyage and Return
5.Comedy
6. Tragedy
7. Rebirth

Thanks Samantha!
The 3-act Story Structure is slightly more complex plot than the Hero's Journey.
The 3 acts are the:

- Introduction
- Opposition
- Resolution

Each of these 3 acts brake into more parts!
Let's start with the Introduction! xD

THE 3-ACT STORY STRUCTURE

THE 1st ACT: Introduction

The Introduction is split into three parts:

1-1: The Hook
1-2: The Inciting Incident
1-3: The First Plot Point

1-1 the Hook
The Hook is the very first sequence of your story, and, as its name suggests, it is the part that hooks your reader into your story. To do that, then Hook must do 3 things:
- Introduce your protagonist (alias main character)
- Establish your protagonist’s everyday life
- Show how the protagonist is dissatisfied with their everyday life by showing them dealing with everyday conflict

Leah wrote: "Thank you so much Amanda!!"

Your welcome ❤️! It's my pleasure to share this with you all 💕!

Examples of the Hook in popular stories:

- Katniss Everdeen is a determined 16-year old who has to hunt illegally to feed her family suffering under the unjust rule of the Capital (from The Hunger Games)

- Harry Potter is a boy who doesn't know why strange things always happens around him, which he is often punished for by his aunt and uncle (from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone)

Can YOU spot any more examples of the Hook in popular stories? =D

Right-oh! I'm back today with...

1-2 The Inciting Incident
The Inciting Incident is the part where your protagonist gets the call to action.
Before this call to action, your protagonist is what we call a "static character", which means that s/he is a character that does not change. They accept the everyday they are living and do not resist whatever it is that makes them dissatisfied.
The Inciting Incident changes all that. Either it is a disaster or an invitation, it gets the ball rolling.

Examples of the Inciting Incident in popular stories:

- Katniss's sister Prim is reaped into the Hunger Games.

- Harry recieves letters from no one, taken from him by his aunt and uncle, who hides on an island to avoid the letters, then Hagrid comes along, smashed down the front door, and told Harry the truth about his parents.

1-3 The First Plot Point
The First Plot Point is the sequence where your protagonist heeds the call-to-action and is launched into the heart of the story and into Act Two.
Sometimes, the First Plot Point is actually the same event as the Inciting Incident, as the protagonist was thrust into action of the story by external forces or raised stakes with no choice to the contrary.
The other cases, however, the protagonist hesitates and chooses whether or not to engage with the story after the Inciting Incident. The First Plot Point changes all that.

Examples of the First Plot Point in popular stories:

- Katniss volunteers as Tribute to save her sister, Prim.
- Harry follows Hagrid to Hogwarts and into the Wizarding World

Note: in these examples I gave, both protagonists heede the call-to-action at once. I will give examples of hesitant and resisting protagonists later 😉!

These are brilliant. Thanks so much.

Deacon Tom wrote: "These are brilliant. Thanks so much."

Your welcome ❤️! I'm glad you found it useful 😊!