In his novel, Plot & Structure, James Scott Bell uses the three act structure as his basis. He further breaks down the acts into Beginnings (Act 1), Middles (Act 2), and Endings (Act 3) … each with their own chapter.
This seems to be the most common setup for most stories, especially novels and plays.
Do you use the three act structure in your stories?
I prefer using the Hero’s Journey in the three act structure model, Mr. Bell gives a great example in his book (I’ve used different wording than he does in his example):
Act 1
- Ordinary World
- Call to Adventure
- Refusal of the Call
- Crossing the Threshold
Act 2
- Meeting the Mentor
- Road of Trials
- Moment of Darkness
- Supernatural Aid
Act 3
- Final Battle
- Return with Elixir
Although I prefer to used a slightly more complicated Hero’s Journey in my stories, check it out HERE.
