How to Structure a Story: 3 Acts vs 5 Acts
Hello, Creatives!
Today we’ll be talking about one of my favorite topics when it comes to storytelling and plotting out the arc of a book or script: the 3-act versus 5-act story structure. I learned about this in one of my scriptwriting classes in college and it revolutionized how I plot stories. So, let’s get started.
Pacing the Plot By Dividing a Story into Acts
If you are a storyteller –whether in the form of novels or scripts or documentaries or plays– you understand the struggle that comes with finding the right pace for the plot. A story can seem to move too quickly or too slowly. A plot that moves too quickly means the audience may get confused because major plot details have been overlooked, which is a writing issue. Meanwhile, a plot that moves too slowly means the audience can too easily lose interest in the characters and storyline, which might also be a plot issue.
Finding the right balance is key. One tried and true method of structuring a story is dividing it into acts. Why is this effective? Because in each act, a question must be answered. That question can be in the form of solving internal or external conflict. By the end of each act, the main plot and/or any subplots must move forward or be resolved.
Here’s a solid video that goes in-depth about the 3 act vs 5 act debate. My professor actually used this to guide the class discussion.
The 3 Act Story Structure
We are all very familiar with this structure because it has been the default for movies and TV shows. Traditionally, it goes like this:
Act 1: The main characters are introduced to each other and realize there’s a problem they must face with or against each other.
Act 2: The main characters try to fix the problem but it doesn’t work out.
Act 3: The main characters rally again to fix the problem and it works out this time. Go team!
There are lots of movies and tv shows that fit neatly into this structure and it works really well for commercial appeal. Genres that especially work well within this type of story structure include many episodic action/adventure, romance, and comedy. Why? Because the plot isn’t all that complex. Many stories in these genres have a formulaic plot arc.
Now, just to be clear, there is nothing wrong with that. I love formulaic stories. TV shows like Friends, Gilmore Girls, Eureka, etc are my binge-worthy feel-good staples. There are also plenty of movies that I like that follow this structure, like Tomb Raider, the Star Wars franchise, and most Marvel movies. There is something comforting about knowing what to expect from a movie or show. That’s what a 3 act structure provides: reliable storytelling.
The 5 Act Story Structure
I personally love the possibilities that come with a 5 act story structure. I began writing my book with this structure after taking a scriptwriting class a few years ago. It’ll hopefully be self-published later this year. Side note: if you would like to learn more about the self-publishing process, feel free to hop over to my Youtube channel where I’m documenting the journey.
Anyway, the 5 act story structure works well with character-driven stories, “hard” science fiction/fantasy, mystery, thriller, horror, and inspirational storytelling such as documentaries. In a 5 act story structure, the plot goes like this:
Act 1: The characters are introduced and the main plot point is revealed.
Act 2: The characters are introduced to subplot points in the pursuit of solving the main plot point.
Act 3: A subplot point is resolved as the characters move closer to solving the main plot point, but another subplot may be introduced.
Act 4: Another subplot point is resolved in pursuit of resolving the main plot. There may or may not be another subplot introduced.
Act 5: If this is a standalone story, most subplots are resolved and typically, the main plot is resolved too. If this is a series, the main plot point may either avoid being resolved or be revealed to be nothing but a subplot in the overarching series.
See the difference this makes? Some really good examples of the 5 act story structure in the tv and film include the Oceans’ movies and Lost. These are fantastic examples because of the complexity and nuances found within the characters and the motivations each of them have that drive the plot forward.
Which Story Structure is Best For Your Story?
Knowing which story structure is best for you is hard, because it depends on a lot of different factors. Just because one story structure is more commonly found in one genre doesn’t necessarily mean it won’t work for your story. The best advice I can give is to outline the major plot points for the story at large alongside the character plot points that lead to character development (if there is any, some characters are static).
How many plot points do you have? Where do they line up in terms of the story’s timeline? Where are the plot-pivoting decisions that the characters make? If your characters are making several key decisions that impact the trajectory of the plot, then a 5 act story structure might be for you. If there are only a handful of life-changing moments the characters encounter, then a 3 act structure might be for you.
Don’t Mistake Pacing Issues With Story or Character Issues
With all of this said, let’s not mistake pacing issues with story or character issues. A decently paced story can’t overcome the challenges faced by terribly developed characters. Similarly, well developed characters can’t carry a nonsense or boring plot forward.
How do you fix story issues? The answer is simple, but it’s not easy. Make the story and characters believable. Would plot point A naturally cause plot point B? Research parallel situations that have happened in history. Because history is weird, but it has amazing story inspiration possibilities.
Similarly, fixing story issues requires knowing how to write people, not characters. Are the choices the characters making in line with their core values and motivations? How are the characters’ cultures impacting their decision-making? Learn a bit of psychology and sociology, because this will help immensely in creating believable characters. Most importantly, put pieces of yourself in each character to give them nuances. The readers will notice, I promise.
That’s all I have for today. Let me know which you prefer: the 3 act or the 5 act story.
Until Next Time,
Rochele