It doesn’t matter what kind of storyteller you are: mapping out your plots will always have a significant and positive effect on your writing. That’s why different writers have created story structures to help them write the best narratives.
Most writers use some type of narrative structure. Often, it’s a personalized version of popular ones such as the three-act structure, the Hero’s Journey, and the Freytag Pyramid. Let’s take a look at another one that’s relatively new, the seven-point story structure.
The Seven-Point Story Structure
The seven-point story structure outlines a story into seven sequential events. It was popularized by author Dan Wells (I Am Not A Serial Killer) sometime in the 2010s.
It’s an idea he adapted from the Star Trek Roleplaying Game Narrator’s Guide. The structure has since become a popular tool that writers of all genres use to create their stories. Below is the first of a series of videos where he talks about this technique.
Of course, these seven points aren’t the only things happening in your story. But they are the key events that move your story from start to finish. Let’s talk about each one of them.
1. The Hook: This serves to introduce your characters, the world they live in, and the current situation they are experiencing. This is the opposite of your resolution.
2. Plot Point 1: Your character’s world changes and the conflict of the story is introduced. Your character then leaves on an adventure.
3. Pinch Point 1: Think of pinch points as places of pressure. Your protagonist is already on a quest. An antagonizing force is introduced to crank up the conflict.
4. Midpoint: This is the turning point of the story. Your character moves from reaction into action by deciding to do something about this antagonizing force.
5. Pinch Point 2: Things take a turn for the worse. All seems lost and your character is at their lowest point ever. The stakes are further heightened.
6. Plot Point 2: But wait! Your protagonist obtains the last piece needed to end the conflict. Or they realize they’ve had the ability to defeat the antagonist all along.
7. Resolution: This is the climax of the story. Your character either accomplishes or fails what they set out to do.
Notice how similar it looks to other story patterns, especially that of the three-act structure. Plot Point 1 acts as the inciting incident, Pinch point 1 as the rising action, and so on.
The difference, however, is that this tool looks at a story in an almost symmetrical manner. For example, the resolution is almost always the opposite of the hook.
How to Use the Seven-Point Story Structure
Now, this structure is best approached in a non-linear manner. When planning a novel with this structure, it’s best to start at the resolution first, decide on the opposite of this ending, find the middle, and so on. So the plotting order would look more like this:
Determine the resolution.
Decide how you want the story to end. This gives you a sense of direction for where events should be heading. Also, because of this tool’s symmetrical pattern, you now know that your hook is the opposite of your chosen ending.
Consider Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone:
Harry, though at a disadvantage, duels with Professor Quirrel and Voldemort. He wins, reunites with his friends, and learns about the powerful magic bestowed upon him by his mother.
Create your hook.
Think about what your ending is and then create its opposite. So if the ending shows the character as strong and confident, make them weak and cowardly in your hook.
A baby, defenseless and alone, is left in the care of his ordinary relatives. He has just survived an attack from an incredibly dangerous wizard, which leaves his parents dead.
Use the midpoint to divide the story into two parts.
At this point, you now have two events anchoring your story in place. The next step is to split it into two parts.
The first half is where the character only reacts to everything around them. The second is where they proactively pursue their goals. The midpoint provides the event that turns the reaction into action.
Harry realizes that Voldemort is after the sorcerer’s stone and that he plans to use it to restore his body. Harry is dead set on preventing this from happening.
Flesh out the story using Plot Points 1 and 2.
Now that you’ve established a rough skeleton, it’s time to focus on the meat of the story. Consider the key details that will lead the hook to the midpoint and the midpoint to the resolution.
Plot point 1 is where your protagonist is pushed out of a familiar world and into a new one. This is usually where you introduce the main conflict. In the three-act structure, you call this the inciting incident. In the Hero’s Journey, the Call to Adventure.
On his eleventh birthday, Harry receives a visit from the half-giant Hagrid, who gives him an acceptance letter to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He learns about Voldemort and the circumstances surrounding his parents’ deaths.
Plot point 2 is different in that while Plot Point 1 forces the character to act, Plot point 2 has them do the action of their own free will. This is your final step into the resolution.
Harry and his friends discover that the sorcerer’s stone is no longer safe in its hiding place. With no one to turn to, they act on their own.
Up the tension using Pinch Points 1 and 2.
Take a look at your plot points. They’ll likely be about your characters discovering something new, responding to a call of adventure, or having an epiphany. They are about to do something new, strange, or dangerous. This is the time to introduce an element that raises the tension of the main conflict.
Immediately after revealing the main conflict using Plot Point 1, crank up the tension by presenting the vehicle for the conflict—the villain. This is your Pinch Point 1.
Harry stares at Professor Snape, who is currently beside Professor Quirrel. The scar that Voldemort gave him immediately hurts.
Pinch Point 2 also ups the tension. But this time, it’s because the protagonist suddenly finds themselves in a situation they have no control over or have no chance to win.
While serving detention in the forest, Harry is assaulted by a hooded figure. Firenze the centaur scares it away and warns Harry about Voldemort’s plans.
Plan Your Story
Writing without any planning is perfectly fine. But there are also times when following a structure is a more effective way to write—especially when you’re running into creative blocks.
Don’t get too obsessed with following these narrative structures, though. They’re meant to be loose guidelines that help in putting together your story.
Choosing a process that’s effective and enjoyable will take time. But once you do find it, you’ll find your process to be much smoother and far more fruitful.
What story structures have you used to write? Share your experience in the comments below!
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
- Story Structure: Building Your Narrative
- Freytag’s Pyramid and the Importance of a Dramatic Structure
- Using the Dan Harmon Story Circle to Structure Your Narrative
- Story Pacing: 8 Tips To Keep Your Story Moving
Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
