Beginning your Structure

Every story or book follows a basic structure of three acts.

 

If you are like me you automatically plan stories like this without thinking about this structure.  However, knowing the basics will allow you to plan and improve on your basic plot.  Even if you are writing a kids picture book or a kids graphic novel this is your first step in knowing your story design.

Next you will have a basic outline of your plot.  Your plot will include at least the basics of an exposition, the inciting incident, the rising action, the climax, the  falling action, and the resolution.

Act 1

• An exposition, which is the set up for your story or graphic novel, including the setting, the main character, and the conflict. 
• The inciting incident: This is the event that changes the course of the main character's life.

Act 2

• The rising action: This is where you develop the characters and explore their relationships.  This is the meat of the story.  This is what keeps you reading.  If you do not have thoughtful rising action the reader will not want to continue.

Act 3

• The climax: This is the high point of the story, where the main character has to make a major choice or decision. 
• The falling action: This is the point where the main character deals with the results of their decision and is usually packed with action and suspense.
• The resolution: This is the point where there reader learns where the main character ends up and whether they succeed or fail in their goal or desire. 

If have been reading a lot of stories, graphic novels your ideas for your story will automatically fall within this plot structure, because every good story will follow this structure.  When you outline your treatment before starting your novel this should be the basic structure that you use.