How To Structure A Novel: Top Examples & Tips
One of the most fundamental parts of learning how to write a novel is knowing how to structure it. With all the ideas buzzing around in your brain, it can feel impossible to give it any sense of order!
Buth truth is, a good structure is the secret sauce that turns every good story into a page-turner. In this guide, I’ll teach you how to structure a novel, covering both prefer classic and alternative plot structures.
What Is A Novel Structure?
Many writers initially resist the idea of structure, viewing it as a constraint on creativity. However, understanding and using a proper structure is crucial for creating great stories that your readers will love.
Think of structure as the skeleton of your novel – it’s what holds everything together, even if readers don’t directly see it. The basic elements of a story structure include the beginning, where you hook readers and set up the story; the middle, where the main events unfold and characters develop; and the end, where everything comes together for a satisfying conclusion. Without this backbone, a story can lose focus and impact.
A solid structure doesn’t just make your novel easier to follow as the story progresses – it actively supports theme and character development. It provides a framework within which characters can grow, face challenges and change. Not to mention, it’s much easier for authors to type up a novel on their laptops when their story has a framework.
The Most Common Story Structure: Three-Act Structure
Even though it is a basic structure, the three-act structure remains the most common narrative framework because of its simplicity and effectiveness. It guides the reader through a well-paced story, ensuring each element of the plot is carefully developed. Below I’ve used the Fellowship of the Ring by Tolkien to demonstrate how this classic story structure works.
Act 1: Setting the Stage and Introducing the Conflict
In the act one, you lay the context to start your novel. This is where you introduce the main characters, establish the setting, and most importantly, present the central conflict that will drive the narrative through an inciting incident. In The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Book 1), J.R.R. Tolkien begins by introducing the peaceful Shire and the protagonist, Frodo Baggins. The conflict emerges with the discovery of the One Ring and the looming threat of Sauron, setting the stage for the epic journey ahead.
Act 2: Rising Action and Character Development
The second act is where the tension builds, and characters are tested. This is the longest part of the story, where the protagonist faces increasing challenges and the stakes continue to rise. In The Fellowship of the Ring, this corresponds to the journey of the Fellowship as they travel through Middle-earth, encountering dangers like the Mines of Moria and the treachery of Saruman. During this act, the characters evolve—
Act 3: Climax, Resolution, and Denouement
The third act includes the climax of the story and the denouement meaning a final resolution, where plot threads are tied up and conflicts are resolved). In The Fellowship of the Ring, the climax occurs with the breaking of the Fellowship at Amon Hen, where Frodo decides to continue the quest alone. This sets the stage for the resolution of individual character arcs and the overarching narrative, which continues into the next books.
Interestingly, Tolkien’s entire Lord of the Rings trilogy can also be viewed as a macrocosm of this structure:
- Book 1 (The Fellowship of the Ring): Acts as the first act, establishing the world and the central conflict.
- Book 2 (The Two Towers): Serves as the second act, with increasing action and deeper character development as the story splits into multiple, intense subplots.
- Book 3 (The Return of the King): Functions as the third act, where the story reaches its climax with the Battle of Pelennor Fields and the destruction of the Ring, followed by the resolution and return to the Shire.
Alternative Ways To Structure Your Novel
While dividing your novel into 3 acts is the most commonly used framework in novel writing, it’s not the only option. There are several alternative plot structures to consider. Each offers a unique way to structure a novel and choosing the right one can help you tell your story in a way that best suits your characters, themes, and style.
The Hero’s Journey: A Timeless Storytelling Framework
The Hero’s Journey is one of the most enduring and widely used narrative structures in storytelling, tracing the protagonist’s arc as they embark on an adventure, face challenges, achieve a significant victory, and return transformed.
Originally outlined by Joseph Campbell in The Hero with a Thousand Faces, it is very similar to the three-act structure but the Hero’s Journey consists of 17 steps guiding the hero through their epic journey. The steps don’t have to be in the traditional order, and not all steps need to be included.
This plot structure is useful, particularly for stories of personal growth, adventure, and transformation, and it has been used in countless novels, films, and myths.
Let’s explore the 17 steps of the Hero’s Journey, using The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis as an example.
- The Call to Adventure: The hero is invited to leave their ordinary world.
Example: Lucy discovers the wardrobe and enters the world of Narnia, where she meets Mr. Tumnus. - Refusal of the Call: The hero is reluctant or refuses the adventure.
Example: She is unsure whether to return when her siblings don’t believe her story. - Supernatural Aid: The hero meets a mentor or receives help to begin their journey.
Example: Mr. Tumnus becomes her guide, offering help and knowledge about Narnia. - The Crossing of the First Threshold: The hero leaves their familiar world and enters the unknown.
Example: Lucy fully commits to the adventure when she returns to Narnia with her siblings. - The Belly of the Whale: The hero experiences a deep, transformative challenge.
Example: Lucy learns that Mr. Tumnus is a servant of the White Witch who has ordered to take any humans to her. - The Road of Trials: The hero faces a series of challenges that test their strength.
Example: She avoids the White Witch’s forces and journeys to meet Aslan. - The Meeting with the Goddess: The hero experiences a profound encounter with a significant figure, often representing unconditional love or the ideal.
Example: Meeting Aslan causes Lucy to feel in awe and admiration. - The Temptation: The hero is tempted to stray from their path.
Example: Lucy’s faith in the fight against the White Witch diminishes when she thinks Aslan is dead. - Atonement with the Father: The hero must confront the figure holding ultimate power in their life.
Example: Lucy confronts the White Witch at the final battle for Narnia. - Apotheosis: The hero undergoes a period of transformation, often gaining new insight or power.
Example: After Aslan’s resurrection, Lucy learns the power of Deep Magic and her resolution to defeat the White Witch is strengthened. - The Ultimate Boon: The hero achieves the goal of their quest.
Example: Lucy and her siblings, with Aslan’s help, defeat the White Witch, freeing Narnia from her rule. - Refusal of the Return: The hero may hesitate to return to their world after their journey. Example: Long after defeating the White Witch, Lucy stays with her siblings to rule Narnia.
- The Magic Flight: The hero experiences a chase or flight as they return to normal life
Example: Now, as adults, the Pevensies chase a white stag in the forest before discovering the wardrobe they first used to enter Narnia. - Rescue from Without: The hero may need help returning home, especially after their transformative experience
- The Crossing of the Return Threshold: The hero returns to their normal life but is now changed.
Example: The Pevensies return to England as children but with the wisdom and experiences of their time in Narnia. - Master of Two Worlds: The hero has achieved a balance between the material and spiritual worlds.
Example: The Pevensies carry their experiences from Narnia within them but know they can also return to Narnia. - Freedom to Live: The hero is free from the fear of death, living in the moment without anxiety about the future.
Example: The children are ready to live their lives in the ordinary world.
The Seven-Point Story Structure: A Modern Approach
The Seven-Point Story Structure is a contemporary method that outlines key plot points to guide the story. This structure includes:
- a hook
- plot turn 1
- pinch point 1
- midpoint
- pinch point 2
- plot turn 2
- resolution.
(Pinch points are pivotal moments that apply pressure to the protagonist, often highlighting the antagonist’s power and increasing the story’s tension.)
To better understand how this sort of structure works in a novel. Let’s take a look at Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling. The hook is Harry’s discovery of his wizarding identity. Plot turns occur with key events like the arrival at Hogwarts and the discovery of the Sorcerer’s Stone. The pinch points, such as Harry’s encounters with Professor Snape and the growing danger of the Sorcerer’s Stone, maintain tension and drive the story toward its resolution while leaving room for sequels.
The Snowflake Method: Expanding from a Central Idea
The Snowflake Method, developed by Randy Ingermanson, starts with a central idea and gradually expands it into a full-fledged novel. The writer begins with a simple one-sentence summary, then expands it into increasingly detailed layers of plot and character development. For example, you might start with a single sentence about your story’s core conflict, then develop it into a detailed outline and scene-by-scene breakdown before writing your first draft.
Writing your novel this way lets you immerse yourself deeply into the story, allowing your creativity to flow naturally without being confined by rigid structure.
The Fichtean Curve: Emphasizing Rising and Falling Action
The Fichtean Curve focuses on a series of rising and falling actions, emphasising conflict and crisis rather than long expositions. This structure is dynamic and keeps the reader constantly engaged by placing the protagonist in a sequence of escalating challenges.
Example: Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk exemplifies this with its relentless pace and the protagonist’s constant confrontations with both external and internal conflicts. This leads to a dramatic climax where the protagonist realises that he has a split personality where he and his enemy Tyler Durden are the same person, and he shoots himself with the intention of killing Tyler too.
The Freytag’s Pyramid: A Five-Act Dramatic Structure
Freytag’s Pyramid is a five-act structure that includes exposition, rising action, climax and denouement. This classical framework is derived from ancient Greek drama and is well-suited for stories with a strong dramatic arc.
Example: Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare perfectly embodies Freytag’s Pyramid, with its clear division into five acts that guide the story from the initial conflict between the Montagues and Capulets to the tragic resolution.
The Circular Structure: Ending Where You Begin
The Circular Structure is whether the story circles, ending where it began, often with the protagonist or key elements returning to their original state, but with a deeper understanding or change in perspective. This structure emphasizes themes of fate, inevitability, or the cyclical nature of life, often highlighting how characters are shaped by events that repeat or mirror earlier ones.
Example: In The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy’s journey begins and ends in Kansas. After her extraordinary adventures in Oz, she returns home but with a profound change in perspective. Dorothy realizes that, despite her initial desire to escape, ‘there’s no place like home’.
Choosing The Right Structure For Your Story
The average number of chapters in novels today is 50, but that doesn’t mean that yours has to have this many.
Selecting the best structure for your novel is essential to how your story unfolds and if it’s a hit or miss with readers. To make the best choice, analyse your story’s core themes and needs. Ask yourself: What journey is my protagonist on? Is the story more character-driven or plot-focused? How do I want my readers to feel at different stages of the narrative? These questions can help you determine whether a structure like the Hero’s Journey or the Fichtean curve is the best fit.
Next, consider your genre’s expectations. Different genres often come with built-in reader expectations that can help you choose. Ask yourself: What do readers in my genre expect? Would a tense, rising action curve work best for a thriller, or would the dramatic arc of Freytag’s Pyramid better suit a historical fiction novel? Understanding these expectations can help you align your structure with what your audience is looking for.
Finally, match the structure to your writing style and strengths. Reflect on your writing process with questions like: Am I more comfortable with detailed plotting or letting the story unfold organically? Do I excel in character development or intricate plotting? Would this story be told best in one action-packed novel or should I expand the word count so it’s told over 2 or more books? The answers can guide you toward a structure like the Snowflake Method if you prefer to write a plot organically or the Seven-Point Story Structure if prefer to focus on character arcs. Don’t hesitate to experiment with hybrid structures too!
Structure Your Novel Easily Today
Remember, structure isn’t a cage; it’s a tool to help shape the best story possible from your ideas. Choosing the right structure will help you to keep focused and makes the grand task of ‘writing a novel’ a little less intimidating when you break it down into chapters.
Whether you’re a plotter who loves the three-act structure or a pantser drawn to the flexibility of the snowflake method, there’s a perfect framework out there for your story. So, armed with this knowledge, it’s time to plot your novel with a stellar structure today.
