The Art of Story Structure: The Top Book Writing Plotting and Outlining Templates Every Author Should Know

In the realm of writing, creativity and structure coexist, each one vital to the process of transforming a mere idea into a riveting novel. For budding authors and seasoned scribes alike, knowing the best methods to plot, plan, and pen a story can be the key to unlocking their storytelling prowess.

This comprehensive guide will delve into the top book writing methods that have empowered countless authors to weave their words into memorable tales. Whether you’re embarking on your first writing adventure or looking to refine your craft, these tried-and-tested approaches are sure to enhance your narrative, captivate your readers, and take your writing to new heights.

Top writing templates and story structures for plotting and outlining your story:

1. Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody
   • Outline: This method is based on a screenwriting paradigm that consists of 15 plot points (beats) to guide your storytelling. The beats provide a framework for your narrative’s pacing and emotional arc.
   • Source: Save the Cat! Writes a Novel
2. Snowflake Method by Randy Ingermanson
   • Outline: This method begins with a simple one-sentence summary of your story. You gradually expand this summary into a full-fledged novel by adding more details in each step.
   • Source: AdvancedFictionWriting – Snowflake Method
3. The Hero’s Journey by Joseph Campbell
   • Outline: This universal narrative template includes stages like Ordinary World, Call to Adventure, Refusal of the Call, Meeting the Mentor, Crossing the Threshold, and more.
   • Source: The Hero with a Thousand Faces
4. Story Engineering by Larry Brooks
   • Outline: This method breaks down storytelling into six core competencies: concept, character, theme, structure, scene, and writing voice. It provides a holistic approach to writing a novel.
   • Source: Story Engineering
5. Three Act Structure
   • Outline: This classic template divides the narrative into three parts: Setup (Act I), Confrontation (Act II), and Resolution (Act III).
   • Source: Masterclass – Three Act Structure
6. Freytag’s Pyramid
   • Outline: This classical drama structure includes five parts: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and denouement.
   • Source: Literary Devices – Freytag’s Pyramid
7. The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers by Christopher Vogler
   • Outline: This is a more detailed version of The Hero’s Journey, focusing on the patterns of mythology in storytelling.
   • Source: The Writer’s Journey
8. Novel Factory’s Roadmap
   • Outline: This online tool provides a detailed roadmap for your novel, including character development, plot points, and scene structure.
   • Source: Novel Factory
9. Story Grid by Shawn Coyne
   • Outline: This method helps you deconstruct your story into its elements, allowing you to analyze and improve each part.
   • Source: Story Grid
10. One Page Novel Scene Spreadsheet by Eva Deverell
    • Outline: This resource provides a simple template for planning your novel on a single page. It includes sections for setup, conflict, resolution, etc.
    • Source: Eva Deverell – One Page Novel Scene Spreadsheet
11. The 24 chapter plot outline by Derek Murphy
    • After trying all the others and still having trouble writing my book, I had to get a little deeper and restructure a few of these writing methods to create my own, more detailed outline.
    • Source: Get the full 24 chapter template here for free

Here’s a more detailed breakdown for each book writing template or story structure method.

Please note that some methods are more complex and may require reading the referenced sources for a complete understanding. They aren’t all clear structured chapter plot outlines; some are more guidelines or processes to help you write a book.

1. Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody
   • Opening Image
   • Theme Stated
   • Setup
   • Catalyst
   • Debate
   • Break into Two
   • B Story
   • Fun and Games
   • Midpoint
   • Bad Guys Close In
   • All Is Lost
   • Dark Night of the Soul
   • Break into Three
   • Finale
   • Final Image
2. Snowflake Method by Randy Ingermanson
   • One-sentence summary
   • Expand sentence to a full paragraph describing story setup, major disasters, and ending
   • Write a short summary sheet for each character
   • Expand each sentence of your summary paragraph into a full paragraph
   • Write a one-page description about each major character and a half-page description about the other important characters
   • Expand each paragraph of your summary paragraph into a full page
   • Develop character charts detailing everything about each character
   • Using the expanded plot and character information, write a 4-page synopsis
   • Expand character descriptions into full-fledged character charts detailing everything there is to know about each character
   • List every scene you’ll need to finish the novel
3. The Hero’s Journey by Joseph Campbell
   • Ordinary World
   • Call to Adventure
   • Refusal of the Call
   • Meeting the Mentor
   • Crossing the Threshold
   • Tests, Allies, Enemies
   • Approach to the Inmost Cave
   • Ordeal
   • Reward (Seizing the Sword)
   • The Road Back
   • Resurrection
   • Return with the Elixir
4. Story Engineering by Larry Brooks
   • Concept: the idea that drives the narrative
   • Character: the players in the story, particularly the protagonist
   • Theme: the underlying message or lesson
   • Structure: the arrangement of story points
   • Scene Execution: crafting compelling scenes that push the story forward
   • Writing Voice: the style and tone of the writing
5. Three Act Structure
   • Act I: Setup
     • Introduction
     • Inciting Incident
     • Plot Point One
   • Act II: Confrontation
     • Rising Action
     • Midpoint
     • Plot Point Two
   • Act III: Resolution
     • Pre-Climax
     • Climax
     • Denouement
6. Freytag’s Pyramid
   • Exposition
   • Rising Action
   • Climax
   • Falling Action
   • Denouement
7. The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers by Christopher Vogler
   • Ordinary World
   • Call to Adventure
   • Refusal of the Call
   • Meeting the Mentor
   • Crossing the Threshold
   • Tests, Allies, Enemies
   • Approach to the Inmost Cave
   • Ordeal
   • Reward (Seizing the Sword)
   • The Road Back
   • Resurrection
   • Return with the Elixir
8. Novel Factory’s Roadmap
   • Premise
   • Skeleton Outline
   • Character Introductions
   • Short Synopsis
   • Extended Synopsis
   • Character Development
   • Plot Development
   • Scene Blocking
   • Complete Draft
   • Edit

9. Story Grid by Shawn Coyne
   • The Foolscap Method: a one-page plan covering the global story.
   • The Story Grid Spreadsheet: a scene-by-scene breakdown of the story.
   • The Story Grid Graph: a visual representation of the story’s pacing and intensity.
   • Masterworks Analysis Guide: studying great works to understand their story grid.
   • The 6 Core Questions: key questions to ask when plotting your story.
10. One Page Novel Scene Spreadsheet by Eva Deverell

• Stage 1: The Stasis (life before the story begins)
• Stage 2: The Trigger (the event that sets everything in motion)
• Stage 3: The Quest (the journey or mission the character undertakes)
• Stage 4: The Bolt (a surprise twist or unexpected obstacle)
• Stage 5: The Shift (a change in the character’s understanding or circumstances)
• Stage 6: The Defeat (a low point or setback)
• Stage 7: The Power (the character finding strength or resolution)
• Stage 8: The Resolution (the final outcome of the story)

11. Chapter novel plotting template by Derek Murphy

• 1 Really Bad Day
• Ordinary world, empathy, conflict. Show flaw and lack. Want, Problem, Need.
• 2 Something Peculiar
• Something unique or strange happens, but they dismiss it.
• 3 Grasping at Straws
• Trying to regain control of ordinary world but setbacks mount.
• INCITING INCIDENT (call to adventure)
• 4 Call to Adventure
• Something extraordinarily different happens, they can’t ignore. Major setback.
• 5 Head in Sand
• The new interrupts the old and causes conflict. Reveals dissatisfaction with ordinary.
• 6 Pull out Rug
• Trying to fix ordinary world problems while resisting the lure of the supernatural world.
• ACT II: 1ST PLOT POINT (point of no return)7 Enemies & Allies
• Explore new world; meet characters, find their place and and role. Introduce all main characters.
• 8 Games & Trials
• Struggle to belong. Frustration and doubt. Trials and challenges. Promise of premise.
• 9 Earning Respect
• Small victory as lead proves capable. Fun and games. Begrudging acceptance.
• 1ST PINCH POINT (first battle)10 Forces of Evil
• Stakes are raised, antagonists revealed.
• 11 Problem Revealed
• Surprise problem or situation. Demanding answers.
• 12 Discovery & Ultimatum
• New information, vulnerable share. In or out?
• MIDPOINT (victim to warrior) 13 Mirror Stage
• Self-realization or a discovery. Victim to Warrior.
• 14 Plan of Attack
• Plan of action to thwart antagonist’s forces or overcome main problem.
• 15 Crucial Role
• Trusted with an important task.
• 2ND PINCH POINT (second battle) 16 Second Battle
• They execute the plan, and come in direct conflict with antagonist’s forces.
• 17 Surprise Failure
• The plan goes horribly wrong, faulty information or assumption. Consequences.
• 18 Shocking Revelation
• The antagonist’s full plan/true identity is revealed. Stakes are raised. Guilt and anger.
• ACT III: 2ND PLOT POINT (dark night of soul)
• 19 Giving Up
• Lead loses confidence; the forces are too great. What they want is unattainable.
• 20 Pep Talk
• Encouragement from ally. Vulnerable share, inclusion. What’s at stake; choice.
• 21 Seizing the Sword
• Deliberate choice to continue, even if slim chance of success.
• FINAL BATTLE (triumph-knowledge)
• 22: Ultimate Defeat
• Triumph of Villain. All hope is lost. Confront fatal flaw.
• 23: Unexpected Victory
• Secret weapon or ability, deep resolve, new understanding, unlikely ally. Remove glass shard. Sacrifice.
• 24: Bittersweet Reflection
• Temporary victory. Innocents saved. How far they’ve come.
• 25 Death of Self
• From ambition to service. Death of former self. Acknowledgment ceremony.
• Optional: Hints of future challenges or antagonist lives.

Remember, these are brief summaries of complex methods. To fully benefit from them, you might want to read the source material or take a course. Some crazy Redditor made this huge plotting cheatsheet. I made it big enough you should be able to share or download it or here’s a scalable svg version here.

The best story structure is the one that helps you finish your book

The problem with an big chart like this, as cool as it is… is that it gets overwhelming. If you are free to make choices or mix-and-match, we may feel like story structure just doesn’t matter at all, which isn’t true. I started with a much simpler, 8 point structure, and then built that out into my 24 chapter outline template.

You’ll see in the chart above, most outlines have less than 20, which means they aren’t really helpful in figuring out the main beats of your novel which are typically longer. But feel free to experiment, explore and learn what all these little pieces mean: they’re important mostly in screenwriting, because movies have to take you on a big emotional journey in just 90 minutes.

A book has more time, but that means we can go deeper and hit these points harder, to great dramatic effect; but only if you understand the purpose of each specific element.

When trying to decide between a three act or four act story structure; keep in mind they are basically the same, but a 3 act’s middle act is twice as long as the other two… so it makes sense to break the messy middle down into more manageable pieces.

1. After trying all the others and still having trouble writing my book, I’m still pretty happy with my own contribution to literature… which can be pretty powerful if you master its secrets.
2. Get the full 24 chapter template here for free.

Nonfiction vs Fiction chapter templates

If you’re working on a nonfiction project, I do have some nonfiction book outline templates for memoir and self-help. Here’s also a guide on “fiction vs. nonfiction“.

Derek Murphy

Derek Murphy has a PhD in Literature, is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, and has spent over a decade helping authors write, publish, and sell books through Creativindie. When he’s not critiquing manuscripts or building writing tools, he’s probably in a castle somewhere with cats.