| name | story-structure |
| description | Structure narratives for fiction, screenplays, essays, or presentations — using proven frameworks for plot, character arc, and emotional pacing. |
| version | 1.0.0 |
| author | Gnostor Community |
| license | MIT |
| metadata | {"hermes":{"tags":["storytelling","fiction","narrative","screenplay","writing","plot","structure"]}} |
Story Structure
Build narratives that hold attention and land emotionally — whether you're writing a novel, a short story, a screenplay, a pitch, or a long-form essay.
When to Use
- "I have an idea but don't know how to structure it"
- "My story feels flat / the middle drags"
- "Help me outline [novel/screenplay/essay]"
- "What's missing from this plot?"
- "How do I structure the character arc?"
Core Frameworks
Three-Act Structure
Act 1 (25%) — Setup
- Ordinary world
- Inciting incident (disrupts the ordinary world)
- First turning point (protagonist commits to the journey)
Act 2 (50%) — Confrontation
- Rising stakes, obstacles, complications
- Midpoint (false victory or revelation that raises the stakes)
- Dark night of the soul (all seems lost)
- Second turning point (protagonist finds what they need to win)
Act 3 (25%) — Resolution
- Climax (decisive confrontation)
- Falling action
- New equilibrium (changed world / changed protagonist)
The Hero's Journey (Campbell / Vogler)
Separation → Initiation → Return — useful for epic narratives and character-driven stories.
Save the Cat Beat Sheet (screenwriting)
15 beats mapped to page numbers — the most precise structure for feature films.
Kishōtenketsu (Japanese 4-act)
Introduction → Development → Twist → Reconciliation — conflict-free structure, excellent for literary fiction.
Freytag's Pyramid
Exposition → Rising Action → Climax → Falling Action → Denouement — classical dramatic structure.
Character Arc Types
| Arc | Description |
|---|
| Positive change | Protagonist overcomes a flaw to become better |
| Negative change | Protagonist's flaw destroys them (tragedy) |
| Flat arc | Protagonist is already good and changes the world |
| Disillusionment | Protagonist loses a false belief |
| Corruption | Protagonist gains a false belief |
What I Produce
Given your concept or partial draft:
- Diagnosis — what's working, what's missing, where it breaks
- Structural outline — full beat-by-beat map
- Character arc — internal journey mapped alongside external plot
- Scene list — key scenes, their purpose, and emotional tone
- Pacing notes — where to accelerate, where to linger
Tips
- Tell me genre and target length (short story, novel, feature film)
- Share your logline: "A [protagonist] must [goal] before [stakes]"
- If you have pages written, share the first and last scene
