Every successful story, no matter the genre or format, has some structure at its core. It’s the backbone that provides shape and purpose. Without it, even the most compelling ideas can lose focus and wander off track, making it harder for readers to engage.
Whether you’re a dedicated plotter or a discovery writer who prefers to see where the story goes, structure still plays a role. You don’t have to outline every scene and know everything that will happen; just figuring out the key turning points can help you shape a satisfying beginning, middle, and end (and avoid the dreaded saggy middle).
There are many proven structure systems out there, and each offers a slightly different lens to help writers frame their stories. Here are five widely used and respected models.
(affiliate links ahead)
Save the Cat
Originally created for screenwriters, Blake Snyder’s Save the Cat has become a tried-and-true structure for novelists. It focuses on 15 “beats” that can be used to map your story’s emotional and narrative progress.
Why It Works
- The beats are clear, simple, and easy to follow
- It indicates where in the story beats should occur, so the pace doesn’t flag
- You can use it while planning, drafting, or revising
BONUS TIP: Save the Cat! Writes a Novel (Brody) is an adaptation of Snyder’s screenwriting model for novels.
The Snowflake Method
With Randy Ingermanson’s model, you start small (with a one-sentence summary) and build bigger, gradually expanding that nugget into character profiles, plot points, and whole scenes.
Why It Works
- It’s great for writers who like to start with a concept and expand logically
- The complexity builds little by little, so you don’t get overwhelmed
- It’s especially helpful if you’re working on a high-concept story
Because of its unique approach, the Snowflake Method works well for analytical thinkers and writers who like structure but want flexibility.
The Writer’s Journey
Christopher Vogler’s The Writer’s Journey adapts Joseph Campbell’s The Hero’s Journey into a user-friendly guide for storytellers. Focused on character arc, this model follows a character through familiar stages, such as The Ordinary World, The Call to Adventure, Crossing the First Threshold, and Return With the Elixir.
Why It Works
- Its patterns resonate with the human psyche
- It focuses heavily on transformation and character arc
- Plot and theme are blended in a way that elevates both
BONUS: Vogler’s book also examines common character archetypes (the hero, mentor, shadow, etc.) and how to make the most of them in your story.
Michael Hauge’s 6-Stage Plot Structure
Michael Hauge, a well-known Hollywood story consultant, created the 6-Stage Plot Structure for mapping a character’s inner journey alongside plot developments. It breaks the story into six stages and five turning points that can easily be used to map your story.
Why It Works
- It pairs internal transformation with external plot
- It focuses on creating an emotional payoff, not just an exciting story
- It charts a protagonist’s evolution from identity (who they pretend to be) to essence (who they truly are)
PSST: This is Becca and Angela’s preferred structure model. We like it so much that we used it to create a Story Map tool at One Stop for Writers. Check it out!
K.M. Weiland’s Structuring Your Novel
Structuring Your Novel divides a story into four quarters and walks writers through the purpose of major turning points like the Inciting Event, First Plot Point, Midpoint, Third Plot Point, and Climax. K.M. Weiland builds on classic principles of storytelling while grounding them in modern narrative craft. The result is a practical guide that helps writers understand where key moments belong in a story and why they matter emotionally.
Why It Works
- It offers a clear, easy-to-follow roadmap through the stages of story development
- It helps writers diagnose pacing issues and strengthen emotional impact
- The complementary workbook makes it easy to put information from the book into practice
BONUS: Katie’s Story Structure Database examines literally hundreds of books and movies and identifies their major turning points. It’s a goldmine for learning to identify those points in familiar stories so it’s easier to incorporate them into your own.
Summary for Busy Writers: Structure doesn’t limit creativity; it supports it. When you understand how stories are built, you can write with control, shape stronger arcs, and give your readers a deep emotional experience. No matter your process, knowing the beats that make stories work will help you stay on track. Try a few of these models and see which one fits your style, genre, and the story you want to tell.
What story structure tool works best for you?
Other Posts in This Series
Dialogue Mechanics
Effective Dialogue Techniques
Semi-Colons and Other Tricky Punctuation Marks
Show-Don’t-Tell, Part 1
Show-Don’t-Tell, Part 2
Building a Balanced Character
Infodumps
Point of View Basics
Choosing the Right Details
Avoiding Purple Prose
Character Arc in a Nutshell
Becca Puglisi is an international speaker, writing coach, and bestselling author of The Emotion Thesaurus and its sequels. Her books are available in five languages, are sourced by US universities, and are used by novelists, screenwriters, editors, and psychologists around the world. She is passionate about learning and sharing her knowledge with others through her Writers Helping Writers blog and via One Stop For Writers—a powerhouse online library created to help writers elevate their storytelling.
This is amazing – I have heard about all of these models but was never sure which one might be most helpful. Now I can scan them and see all. Then, I can try to apply each to my work in progress. I have to be upfront, I am a died in the wool Pantser. Some of the writing coaches I have listened to left me feeling kind of depressed because they always said, “This is the only way.”
Thank you so much!