Perfecting Your Plot: How to Structure a Narrative

Summary

This video offers a comprehensive guide to understanding narrative arcs and structures in storytelling. Emma from Servicescape breaks down various narrative structures like linear, non-linear, circular, parallel, and interactive, emphasizing how each can highlight different themes. She also explains Frytag's Pyramid, a classic model of the narrative arc with five key stages: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. By detailing each stage and how it contributes to the story, viewers gain insight into crafting their own engaging plots, with tips for organizing and customizing their stories.

Takeaways

• 😀 Stories have been a central part of human culture for thousands of years, evolving from oral traditions to modern literature and media.
• 😀 Narrative structure refers to the way a story unfolds, with different structures like linear, non-linear, circular, parallel, and interactive each serving different thematic purposes.
• 😀 Linear or chronological structure tells a story in the order events occur, commonly used in many books.
• 😀 Non-linear or fractured narratives jump around in time and character focus, creating a more complex storytelling experience.
• 😀 Circular narratives start and end the same way, offering a sense of closure, like in S.E. Hinton's 'The Outsiders'.
• 😀 Parallel structures follow multiple storylines that share themes or characters, as seen in 'The Great Gatsby'.
• 😀 Interactive structures allow the reader to make choices that influence the story, such as in 'Choose Your Own Adventure' books or interactive media like 'Black Mirror: Bandersnatch'.
• 😀 The narrative arc, introduced by Gustav Freitag, is a five-stage diagram representing key story points: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.
• 😀 Exposition introduces the world and characters, setting up the background for the story, with varying levels of detail depending on the author’s approach.
• 😀 The rising action builds the story’s tension through character development, interactions, and the emergence of obstacles.
• 😀 The climax is the turning point where the protagonist faces their greatest challenge, leading to the resolution of the conflict, often with surprising outcomes.
• 😀 The falling action shows the characters adapting to the outcomes of the climax, setting up the conclusion of the story.
• 😀 The resolution answers the story’s lingering questions, deciding the characters' fates, whether they succeed, fail, or grow.
• 😀 The narrative arc is flexible, and writers can customize it according to their needs, using tools like mood boards, outlines, or timelines.
• 😀 Storytelling is an evolving art, and while many stories have been told, there is always room for more, with the narrative arc serving as a helpful guide for writers.

Q & A

What is the significance of the narrative arc in storytelling?

The narrative arc is a framework that helps organize the progression of a story. It creates a structure that guides the plot from introduction to resolution, ensuring a satisfying and coherent narrative that engages the audience emotionally.

What are the different types of narrative structures mentioned in the video?

The video mentions five types of narrative structures: linear (chronological), non-linear (fractured), circular, parallel, and interactive. Each of these structures can serve different storytelling purposes and emphasize particular themes or ideas.

How does a linear narrative structure differ from a non-linear structure?

A linear structure presents events in the order they occur, often following a straightforward progression. In contrast, a non-linear structure jumps through time or between characters, often revealing events in a fragmented or out-of-sequence manner.

Can you give an example of a circular narrative structure?

An example of a circular narrative structure is S.E. Hinton's *The Outsiders*. The story begins and ends with the same sentence, suggesting a cyclical pattern and emphasizing the main character's growth through the events of the story.

What is Frytag's Pyramid, and how does it help in storytelling?

Frytag's Pyramid is a diagram developed by Gustav Freytag in the 19th century that outlines five key stages in a narrative: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. It serves as a tool to organize the structure of a story and create a clear narrative flow.

What happens during the exposition stage of a story?

The exposition introduces the world, characters, and key elements of the story. It sets the stage for the narrative by providing essential background information, and can vary in length depending on the complexity of the world or characters, as seen in works like *The Lord of the Rings*.

Why is the rising action important in a narrative arc?

The rising action is crucial because it builds tension and excitement as characters face obstacles and interact with each other. It develops the plot, increases stakes, and gives the audience reasons to become emotionally invested in the characters' journeys.

What is the climax of a story, and why is it significant?

The climax is the turning point of the story, where the protagonist confronts the primary conflict or antagonist. It's the most intense moment of the story, and the outcome of this moment determines the direction of the narrative, leading to the resolution.

How do the falling action and resolution tie up the story?

The falling action shows the consequences of the climax and helps deflate the tension, guiding the narrative toward its conclusion. The resolution then provides closure by answering the story's key questions, such as whether characters succeed or fail and what they learn from their experiences.

What tools can writers use to help plot their stories, according to the video?

Writers can use various tools such as note cards, mood boards, pre-made templates, lists, outlines, and timelines to plot their stories. The choice of tools depends on the writer's preference and the needs of the story. These tools are flexible and can be customized for different types of narratives.