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The Hero's Journey (Monomyth) | A narrative arc where a hero ventures forth, faces trials, and returns transformed, often used in mythological stories. |
Three-Act Structure | A plot divided into three parts: setup, confrontation, and resolution, commonly used in films and novels. |
Freytag's Pyramid | A five-part structure involving exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution, focusing on dramatic tension. |
Five-Act Structure | A more detailed version of the Three-Act Structure, often used in Shakespearean plays, with acts like exposition, rising action, climax, and resolution. |
Dan Harmon's Story Circle | A circular narrative structure where a character starts in their comfort zone, ventures out to face conflict, and returns changed. |
Kishōtenketsu | A plot structure from East Asian storytelling, consisting of introduction, development, twist, and conclusion, without focusing on conflict. |
Fichtean Curve | A structure emphasizing rising tension through a series of crises, each more intense, leading to the climax. |
In Medias Res | A plot that begins in the middle of the action, revealing background information later through flashbacks or dialogue. |
Seven-Point Story Structure | A method involving seven key plot points: the hook, plot turn 1, pinch point 1, midpoint, pinch point 2, plot turn 2, and resolution. |
Save the Cat Beat Sheet | A screenplay structure with 15 beats designed to create a well-paced story arc. |
The Story Spine | A flexible narrative structure with key points like 'Once upon a time,' leading through conflict to resolution. |
The Quest | A hero embarks on a journey to achieve a goal, facing trials and obstacles along the way. |
Rags to Riches | A narrative where a character rises from humble beginnings to achieve success, often facing challenges on their way to fortune. |
Tragedy | A plot where the protagonist is destined for downfall due to a fatal flaw, ending in catastrophe or loss. |
Rebirth | A character experiences a significant change, often after overcoming dark forces or personal struggles, symbolizing renewal. |
Overcoming the Monster | A hero sets out to defeat a great evil or monstrous foe, often in a battle of life and death. |
Voyage and Return | A protagonist ventures into a strange new world, faces challenges, and returns home transformed. |
Comedy | A light-hearted narrative focusing on misunderstandings, confusion, and humor, usually resolving in a happy ending. |
Man in a Hole | A plot where a character falls into a difficult situation and must work their way out, gaining wisdom or strength in the process. |
Man on a Mission | A story where the protagonist is driven by a clear objective, often against the odds, to accomplish a significant goal. |
Parallel Narrative | A story that follows multiple, interconnected plotlines, often revealing how they converge towards the end. |
Non-linear Narrative | A narrative that is not told in chronological order, using flashbacks, forwards, and mixed timelines to tell the story. |
Frame Story | A story within a story, where the main narrative is set within a larger context provided by the outer story. |
Circular Narrative | A story that ends in the same place it began, with the protagonist experiencing little or no change. |
Boy Meets Girl | A romance plot where two characters meet, fall in love, face obstacles, and eventually end up together. |
Enemies to Lovers | A plot where two characters initially dislike or oppose each other but gradually develop romantic feelings. |
Forbidden Love | A romantic story where the love between two characters is forbidden by external forces, such as societal or familial constraints. |
Love Triangle | A plot involving three people in a romantic entanglement, often creating tension and conflict. |
Second Chance Love | A narrative where characters who were once in love reconnect after time apart, facing the past to rekindle their romance. |
Friends to Lovers | A romantic plot where two friends gradually realize their romantic feelings for each other. |
Secret Relationship | A romantic plot where characters keep their relationship hidden due to external pressures or complications. |
Whodunit | A mystery story where the plot revolves around discovering the identity of the criminal or perpetrator. |
Locked Room Mystery | A subgenre of mystery where a crime (usually a murder) is committed under seemingly impossible circumstances. |
Police Procedural | A crime story that focuses on the investigative process of law enforcement officials to solve a case. |
Noir | A dark, moody plot often involving crime, corruption, and morally ambiguous characters, typically with a cynical or bleak tone. |
Cozy Mystery | A lighthearted mystery often set in a small town or village, with minimal violence or gore, solved by an amateur detective. |
Psychological Thriller | A suspenseful plot that focuses on the mental states of the characters, often involving mind games, manipulation, or psychological tension. |
Heist/Caper | A plot focused on the planning and execution of a crime, typically involving a group of characters with specialized roles. |
First Contact | A science fiction plot where humanity (or another species) encounters an alien species for the first time. |
Apocalyptic/Post-Apocalyptic | A plot set during or after a major catastrophe that has decimated society, focusing on survival and rebuilding. |
Time Travel | A plot where characters travel to different time periods, exploring the consequences and paradoxes of altering history. |
Space Exploration | A science fiction plot that involves the exploration of space and the discovery of new worlds or civilizations. |
Cyberpunk | A futuristic plot often centered around dystopian societies dominated by high technology, corporate power, and digital landscapes. |
Dystopian/Utopian | A plot set in a dystopian (oppressive, totalitarian) or utopian (ideal, perfect) society, exploring its strengths or flaws. |
Alien Invasion | A plot where extraterrestrial beings invade Earth, often focusing on humanity's resistance or survival. |
Quest for Treasure | A plot where the characters seek to find a valuable or powerful object, often facing dangerous obstacles along the way. |
Exploration and Discovery | A plot focused on exploring unknown lands or worlds, often leading to new discoveries or knowledge. |
Overcoming a Fear | A plot where the protagonist must confront and conquer a deep-seated fear to achieve a personal or external goal. |
Friendship and Teamwork | A story emphasizing the power of collaboration and mutual support, typically highlighting character bonds and loyalty. |
Family and Home | A plot centered around the importance of family relationships, home, and belonging, often involving conflict and reconciliation. |
Undercover Operation | A plot where characters infiltrate an organization or group, often hiding their true identities to gather information or achieve a goal. |
High-Stakes Retrieval | A plot focused on retrieving a valuable object or person, often with great risk or reward. |
Bildungsroman | A coming-of-age story that focuses on the moral, psychological, and personal development of the protagonist. |
Romantic Comedy | A light-hearted romance story that focuses on humorous misunderstandings and conflicts, usually ending in a happy resolution. |
Rescue and Reunion | A plot where a character must rescue someone or something and is reunited with loved ones in the process. |
Marriage Plot Structure | A plot focused on courtship, the challenges leading to marriage, and the eventual union of the protagonists. |
Coming of Age | A plot that follows the growth and development of a young protagonist as they transition into adulthood. |
Ensemble Plot Structure | A story with multiple protagonists, each with their own arcs, that interweaves their stories into a cohesive narrative. |
Pursuit Plot Structure | A plot that focuses on one or more characters being chased, often involving action and high-stakes tension. |
Showdown Plot Structure | A plot building towards a final confrontation or battle between the protagonist and the antagonist. |
Irony Plot Structure | A plot where events unfold in a way that is the opposite of what is expected, often emphasizing a tragic or comedic twist. |
Transformation Plot Structure | A plot where a character undergoes a profound change, often learning a critical lesson or evolving through their experiences. |
Courtroom Drama Plot Structure | A plot revolving around legal battles, focusing on the drama of a trial, the uncovering of the truth, and justice being served. |
Founding Plot Structure | A plot focusing on the creation or founding of an important entity, such as a company, nation, or movement. |
Escape Plot Structure | A plot where the main goal is to escape a dangerous or oppressive situation, often involving suspense and high stakes. |
Social Commentary Plot Structure | A plot that critiques societal norms, practices, or systems, often using the narrative to raise awareness of issues. |
Conspiracy Plot Structure | A plot where characters uncover a hidden or nefarious plan, often involving powerful or secretive organizations or individuals. |
Flash Fiction Plot Structure | A very short story that conveys a complete narrative with minimal exposition, often focused on a single moment or event. |
Creation and Legacy Plot Structure | A plot focused on the creation of something significant (e.g., an invention, organization) and the lasting impact or legacy it leaves behind. |
Technological Advancement Plot Structure | A plot that revolves around the development and consequences of new technologies, often exploring their societal, ethical, or personal impact. |
Social Panic Plot Structure | A plot that focuses on the rapid spread of fear or hysteria within a group or society, often resulting in irrational behavior or mass conflict. |