Writing Excuses 7.41: Seven-Point Story Structure

If you’ve ever had difficulty outlining something, this episode might be a perfect fit for you. We discuss the Seven-Point Story Structure, an outlining system Dan uses in which the story moves forward along seven sequential points.

Dan originally acquired this from a role-playing book, but it also sees regular use in screenwriting. Dan walks us through the system, and we hold his feet to the fire on behalf of Lou Anders, who once privately confessed to Howard that he just couldn’t get this thing to work.

Here, without any flavor text, are the seven points:

Hook
Plot Turn I
Pinch I
Midpoint
Pinch II
Plot Turn II
Resolution

While these are (obviously) not the only seven things that happen in your book, these are the key things that are working together to move you from hook to resolution.

After an explanation of the system, we brainstorm this on Dan’s “I.E.Demon” story in order to demonstrate the tool for you. Also, for Lou.

Audiobook Pick-of-the-Week: Enchanted, by Alethea Kontis, narrated by Katherine Kellgren

Linkage: Dan Wells Seven-Point Story Structure on YouTube

Homework: Try out the seven-point story structure for yourself. Outline something!

Writing Excuses 7.41: Seven-Point Story Structure

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