Learn about the nine archetypal plots that underlie most stories, from Overcoming the Monster to Rebirth. See examples, variations, and how to apply them to your own writing.
But so much of writing a great story is knowing and mastering the type of story you're trying to tell. What are the types of stories? And how do you use them to tell a great story? In this article, we're going to cover the nine types of stories, share which tend to become best-sellers, and share the hidden values that help you master each type.
Many academics, most notably author Christopher Booker, believe there are only seven basic narrative plots in all of storytelling – frameworks that are recycled again and again in fiction but populated by different settings, characters, and conflicts. Those seven types of story are: Overcoming the Monster Rags to Riches The Quest Voyage and Return Rebirth Comedy Tragedy This list comes from ...
What are the 7 Story Plots? Storytelling is a universal aspect of human culture, transcending time and geography. At the heart of every compelling narrative lies a fundamental structure or “plot” that resonates with audiences. Literary theorist Christopher Booker proposed that seven basic plots form the foundation of all stories. This article explores Booker’s theory, delves into the ...
The assessment draws on the work of Christopher Booker’s Seven Basic Plots, Sally Hogshead’s Fascinate Advantages (there’s usually a correlation between your primary and secondary FA scores and your primary story types), and many, many years of reading and researching archetypes and storytelling.
The interest of this classification was to show how folk tales from around the world contain similar motifs. And researchers analyzed over 1,700 English novels using “sentiment analysis” and found that there are six basic story types: Rags to riches – a steady rise from bad to good fortune Riches to rags – a fall from good to bad, a tragedy
Here's an overview of the seven types of stories: Overcoming The Monster, Rags To Riches, The Quest, Voyage & Return, Comedy, Tragedy, and Rebirth. What are the seven types of plot? In his book “The Seven Basic Plots: Why We Tell Stories”, Christopher Booker outlined seven story archetypes that all tales fall into. They are: Overcoming The ...
Learn about the seven basic plots proposed by Christopher Booker, such as Overcoming the Monster, Rags to Riches, and Comedy. Find out how to identify and edit these plots in creative writing.
Why do some stories stick with us? Whether it’s a fairytale you heard as a kid, a classic novel, or your favorite movie, the same basic plots keep showing up. But how do these plots work? Can understanding them make you a better writer? Let’s break it all down. The 7 Basic Plots For more than 30 years, Christopher Booker explored and analyzed the structure and meaning of stories. His ...
Remember, in the six basic plot types, we’re following the arc of the protagonist, but stories that have strong supporting characters will use multiple story arcs.
Stories shape our world. By understanding the 7 basic plot types, we unlock the power to tell our own tales and connect with others.
Since the seven basic plots are as the name suggests… basic, it’s easy to use Dabble to structure your novel. Once you’ve settled on your plot type, break it down using the five points discussed above. Unlike some other structure types, the basic plot points don’t prescribe where each point should happen in your story.
Some lists have a different focus and basic types appear on more than one list. Also, your story can have more than one basic plot or conflict. The longer your story is, the longer you need to hold your reader’s interest, and the more plot elements or conflicts you will need to include.
Learn how Christopher Booker's theory of story structure compares with Dramatica, a more comprehensive and open-ended approach. Explore the seven basic plots, their variations, and their stages with examples and analysis.
Three. From The Basic Patterns of Plot by William Foster-Harris (1959). Not one to be distracted by unnecessary detail, F-H divines three basic plots: (1) happy ending, (2) unhappy ending, and (3) the “literary” plot, “in which the whole plot is done backwards [and] the story winds up in futility and unhappiness.” Examples of literary plots are drawn from Joyce, Pirandello, and other ...
Finally, blend different plot types. Combining elements from archetypal plots, such as merging aspects of a comedy plot with a tragic plot, can result in a more dynamic and intriguing story. This practice allows writers to explore a vast variety of stories while ensuring they remain compelling and fresh. Conclusion: Expanding Your Narrative ...
Here is a new exercise to help you develop new stories, from six word stories right through to novels. Use the archetypal seven basic plots from which all stories come as a backbone for new creative writing, alongside the six word story technique.