7-Point Story Structure | Turn a Concept Into an Outline!

[@ComedorDelrico]

1. The hook 2. Plot turn 1 (catalyst/inciting incident) 3. 1st pinch point (stakes are raised) 4. Midpoint (character becomes proactive) 5. 2nd pinch point (turn for the worst, all is lost) 6. 2nd plot turn (aha moment) 7. Resolution

[@d.daviddguerra7672]

Finally working on my second novel from scratch and I found this video. By far the best guide I've seen so far on the 7-point structure.

[@dameanvil]

00:34 📚 The seven-point story structure is a relatively new plot structure introduced in 2013 by Dan Wells, originating from tabletop role-playing games. 01:30 🧠 The main purpose of the seven-point story structure is to develop an idea into a plot using seven main plot beats, offering flexibility compared to more rigid structures like the hero's journey. 01:57 🏹 The seven story beats are: Hook (compelling introduction), Plot Turn 1 (event drawing character into the story world), First Pinch Point (stakes raised due to antagonist/conflict), Midpoint (character goes from reactive to active), Second Pinch Point (conflict worsens), Second Plot Turn (protagonist discovers key information), and Resolution (antagonist defeated, story resolved). 03:36 🔄 The unique aspect of the seven-point story structure is how it uses these plot beats as symmetrical markers throughout the plot, allowing for non-linear development of the storyline. 05:00 🗺 This structure suggests starting with the resolution, making it potentially useful for outlining mystery novels. In the case of "The Hunger Games," the resolution is Katniss surviving. 06:12 🌟 The hook in "The Hunger Games" contrasts the ending, introducing Katniss as a teenager caring for her family in the poorest district, establishing her survival skills and motivations. 07:23 ⚖ The midpoint in "The Hunger Games" is where Katniss decides to defy the rule of only one survivor, showing increased agency and setting a new goal. 09:17 🪀 The first plot turn in "The Hunger Games" is Katniss volunteering to take her sister's place, an active choice that sets the story in motion. 11:50🚪 The second plot turn involves Katniss outsmarting the game makers, showing her ultimate agency and subverting the initial expectations of the ending. 12:47 📌 The pinch points in "The Hunger Games" involve the introduction of competitors and the ultimate antagonists, raising the stakes and challenging Katniss.

[@booklanerecommendations]

Thank you for this! I was wondering how to outline a novel without using a ready-made story structure, and this looser structure might be great as a guideline. I need to try this and hope it will cure my writer's block :)

[@mynameiskatherine7138]

4

[@MistikaManiac]

@@mynameiskatherine7138 well said

[@TorchwoodPandP]

Thank you for this! It’s a much more intuitive way, and also constructive way, to grapple with what the h’eck I’m doing…

[@hannahnames2239]

This is so helpful! Developing a plot is something I always struggle with and I feel like the typical structures don't help much because they're too linear. Thinking of things in order is a struggle and then I get stuck and end up with nothing. I feel like this plot structure mirrors my thinking process better so I will definitely give it a try ^_^

[@rachelthompson9324]

Good job. This incapsulates Larry Brooks' book Story Engineering which is the most complete resource on structure and related story elements I've seen--I've read dozens of books on this. Brooks shows us how story works.

[@doaa8242]

first: resolution second: beginning third: midpoint fourth: first turing point fifth: second point sixth: 1st pinch seventh: sec. pinch

[@Snarflelocker]

Once again exactly what I needed to learn just when I needed to learn it. You do great work. Thank you for your time, effort, and attention to detail. Cheers.

[@ayafresh]

This was amazing! Thank you! (It reminded me of the structure borrowed from one of the most effective screenplay structures, i.e. WRITE NOW (World, Rejecting the call, Initial attempts, Trying harder, Eye openers, (then going into Act III): Nastiest of the nasty (often a "sacrificial" moment and/or despair), Overcoming, and Winning.) You made it so clear to see how these can be adapted to writing a book as well, and it's fascinating that the fantastic structure you shared was originally for a video game, haha!

[@bobsavage3317]

I always learn so much from your videos. Thank you!

[@torjones1701]

The Hunger Games was published before Dan Wells popularized this structure, but Dan Wells only popularized it among aspiring writers. The Last Unicorn Games RPG book that featured it (Star Trek The Next Generation RPG Narrator's Guide), where he first encountered it, was actually released in 1998. The structure itself has been confirmed to have been used by Roddenberry and the staff writers for the original star trek show to help ensure that each episode had the same feel to it regardless of which writer wrote the episode. Other staff writers for TNG have confirmed that it is the same structure used for that series as well. Not sure about later series, but as they all followed the same structure on screen, I think it fairly safe to assume it may well have been used throughout, unless one of the later staff writers volunteers information to the contrary. (my first exposure to it was the LUG book, but I agree that Dan helped pull it from those humble RPG publications which was a relatively small audience out into the lime light.) Good coverage of it otherwise! I'll be looking at other videos of yours for further gems. :)

[@sariahsue]

Very helpful! I've tried using this structure before, but it just didn't work for me. It makes more sense now!

[@avtpro]

Great breakdown. Love the idea of non-linear development.✍🏽

[@richardneumayer1711]

This was great. Very clear and simple, yet very insightful. I feel I can apply this to my own work. Thanks!

[@its.diot08]

I'm writing an enemies to lovers story and will most probably publish it by October on wattpad and hopefully it goes well!❤ thank you for this❤

[@mattsager914]

@reedsy this helped me out so much, thank you! now i just need to make my plot turns and pinch points more compelling, but there's a series of event I can see now!

[@johnwilson3375]

This was so helpful, thank you!!!

[@karmachameleon326]

Thanks for the video, very helpful. Has anyone mentioned the typo on the “Our contept” slde?

[@carlosssandovallucas9326]

tanks so much. for your teaching is so helpfull. to start to wriet one script for my mini ducumentary

[@shadowstar3432]

Good thing you explained this. People tend to not keep thier story straight. Just seen your video did you do one on the scientific method by any chance.

[@lakeshagadson357]

This stuff sounds like what I should do be doing

[@markcresham5340]

This is the Syd Field paradigm. I'm not sure when he added the pinch points, as he's revised the paradigm over the years, but this is how it currently stands.

[@jarlfenrir]

By way the 3 act structure is usually explained, I just started to wonder why nobody "flattened" acts to just those important points, it looks way more intuitive this way.

[@Metroum]

Thanks for the video!

[@taelerarabella6970]

Great video!

[@3rdwhirledbeau]

Minute 4:30: "our contept"

[@billyalarie929]

captions thinks you said "katniss survives and she went hungry" lmao what

[@ang3429]

Hi Shaylen, i'm busy plotting my murder mystery novel. Which plot structure do you recommend if the reader is introduced to a murder as the opening scene. Thxs for your input😁

[@alyssabaquir]

Can you break down the story structure of Stillwater? It's a great movie that was just released last month

[@storyteller2882]

Just want to note: the 7-point plot structure that uses the terms "hook," "plot point," "pinch," etc. is originally from Syd Field's Screenplay (1979). Please give credit where credit is due.

[@pepinopepino7]

Save the cat The hero's journey Plot embryo Fiction curve 7 step

[@anilogo682]

I have a question. What if your story works with flashbacks. For example you start at the middle, then a flashback to the past and then the story continues from the end of the middle to the end. Does the structure change on a metalevel? To take this 7 point structure as an example: will it be 3 > 4 > 5 > 1 > 2 > 6 > 7 or does the structure remains 1 > 2 > 3 > etc. because of the way you introduce readers to plotpoints. Hope this question even makes sense :S TLDR; does the structure follow the events as they happen in real time or as they are told. (Sorry no native English speaker dunno if my point is understandable)

[@zeratai2465]

In case of going timeline 2-1-3, you can still look at the first part as act 1. It's okay to not tell every detail, then add them for context later. But be aware what the reader is lead to believe from start to finish.

[@anilogo682]

@@zeratai2465 I dont understand your last sentence :/

[@zeratai2465]

@@anilogo682 Apologies. What I mean is, that you can skip on facts about a scene, but you need to know what the reader would think without these details. If a reader knows exactly what is going to happen, or can't follow the plot at all, they would stop reading. They should be able to guess right, but also have wrong guesses available. This way, only reading more can give them the answers they WANT to know.

[@davidlanier2290]

Appreciate the info. Thanks. Still feel tge pacing of your presentation is too rushed makes it hard to follow.

[@yasmeowo]

first?

[@daedalus5253]

Maaaayybeee…?

[@TomEyeTheSFMguy]

yeh

[@shadethedon8351]

Beat / Plot beat / Plot point / Plot / Story .... good luck trying to understand anything in here if you are new to all of this look like everybody want to help but no one actually take the time to understand what they are talking about in the first place. I understand now why they remove to like/dislike from videos, cause youtube suck now !

[@agulati1668]

hey, I had a general doubt, loved your video though:) There are many types of literary conflicts in a story, one of them is man vs author. could you explain me this conflict in brief.

[@RobertaStanford]

I wish you would turn the music off behind you. I find it so distracting.

[@laurar7062]

I've reached the point where every time the Hunger Games or Harry Potter is used as an example, I decide it must be total garbage. If you can't apply it to an adult book, it sucks.

[@Malerie444]

reedsy gets more views then film courage

[@jamesconnelly9055]

Good info but so much vocal fry.

[@kevinwild999]

Try making notes. It works wonders.

[@andrewtea]

Yes, I gave this video a Like and find the content quite useful. But the vocal fry sound is very irritating to my ears as well.

[@SandyCeeSpiritConnections]

I'm sorry, but you need to learn to edit your videos a little less viciously. All the words are running into each other like you're on fire or something. I have slow ears so I would like to listen more slowly to a person who speaks slowly so I can comprehend that said person. The title is a good one, but I got lost around the first piece and could only pluck words out here and there. If you have an article that is written - maybe I can read it instead of listen to it. I would hate to listen to this lady doing and audible reading. Sorry, but first thumbs down I have put on here. :(

[@davidlanier2290]

🖐🙏get to the point. Video is short i am bored at your intro. Dont need a history of plot structure and beats points etc. Do not require a history of the different story structures you won't discuss either... Had you not raced through the explanation to get to the point like a nervous nelly ... i'd be more inclined to listen but your fear filled racing pace demos i shohld be anxious and not listen...

[@jerrtann]

This young woman has two major speaking flaws. She does not enunciate clearly, slurring over words, especially key words, making her hard to understand. She also drops the end of her sentences rendering the last word much lower in volume than the rest of the sentence. It would help considerably is she would slow down, clearly pronounce each word, and take more than one breath per sentence. If she is going to put herself forward as being expert her viewers deserve for her to deliver information in a professional manner.

[@hillhoe9308]

not that deep old man

[@michaelneerup]

She enriches people's lives with valuable knowledge, there's free for the consumer - that's a heroism in my opinion. I don't se the problem - but if it's too big a problem for you then skip the video. No one stops you

[@Bennythesupersnooper]

My gosh, give her a break. She is a writer essentially, sharing her knowledge with us.

[@scorchgardenultrahothotsau7919]

It took you 2 minutes of telling us what you're going to say to actually get into saying it.