I came across a blog post from another site with a great infographic on story structure. I thought I’d pass along the information because I found it beneficial and thought you might too. This post will be short and sweet because I think the information in the infographic speaks for itself and is all that is needed for this post. Enjoy!

For a book to be well-received by your readers, it needs a strong story structure. If it doesn’t, it will seem amateurish to your reader and will aggravate them, leading to them abandoning your story for another. That is the last thing any writer wants to happen. If you follow a good structure, you’ll ensure your story will have all the components that make up a well-thought-out and complete book. Without further ado, here are the components of a strong story.

Hook– Create interest in your story right away by introducing the protagonist and by crafting an exciting first few paragraphs that pull your reader immediately into the story. The hook at the story’s beginning is not the time for backstory or for taking too long to set up the story. A reader won’t put down a book that pulls them immediately into the action.

Inciting Incident- This is where a call to adventure or action happens. Here you introduce your story’s world and tell the reader the conflict.

Key Event- The character is at a crossroads here and has to make an important decision. The protagonist needs to decide to act on whatever the issue is.

Midpoint- This is where the story turns, and you create a twist or a disaster. It becomes the moment of truth for your protagonist.

Crossroads- Your protagonist decides to face the main problem of the story head-on. This is the point of no return where your protagonist commits himself to the issue.

Dark Moment- The dark moment is when all hope seems lost for your protagonist. Your protagonist needs to reexamine his motives and commit to overcoming the obstacles.

Climax- The protagonist has his final confrontation with the antagonist and overcomes the issue that drove the book this far.

Resolution- Wrap up the story here. Make sure there are no plot holes and unanswered questions. Bring the story to a satisfying conclusion. Nothing frustrates a reader more than a cliffhanger.

Each of these elements is vital to a strong story. Without each section, your story could fall flat and turn away readers. I hope you find this information helpful. Happy Writing! Gina