Novel writing is certainly an adventure. It is an experience replete with highs and lows – excitement is followed by frustration, depression, and excitement again. In order to keep the lows to a minimum, while working on the early drafts, understanding the basic structure of a novel helps a lot.
What’s that? Structure to a novel? Yep. Most contemporary novels today, like plays and movies, are based on three acts. While it’s not necessary to know this when reading a novel, it is important to understand structure when writing one. If you think about it, most of us generally have some idea of when something important is going to happen at various points in the story. Without even looking at how far we are in the book, we generally know when a major plot shift or crisis is going to occur. The biggest crises are usually found at the end of the first act, half-way through the second act, at the close of the second act, and just before the close of the third act.
(The same is true with films, by the way. Without knowing exactly how long a movie is, or how long we have been watching it, we generally can tell when the movie is about half way over, and when the film is coming to its climax. Films are structured much the same way.
Here is a diagram of the basic structure for novel writing I made for illustration purposes. The diagonal red line is the plot, increasing in tension towards the climax, followed by the denouement.
click for larger view
You’ll notice that the novel is really divided into four equal parts. Act II is about twice as long as the other two acts, divided by the midpoint climax, or turning point in the story.
As an example, let’s look at a 200 page novel.
Act I: Introduction: Pages 1-50: In the first act we make sure all the major characters are introduced, the major elements of the story are mentioned, and we begin go explore the conflicts between characters. Not all of the characters need to be introduced, but the main characters should be. In Star Wars, for example, you will see that Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Darth Vader are introduced in the first Act. Whereas Han Solo is not. This Act ends with the first major crisis, or plot point, of the story. In Star Wars, Luke’s isolated, agrarian lifestyle is smashed forever when his aunt and uncle are murdered by the Storm Troopers.
Act II (first half): Pages 51-100: This is where the plot really starts to take off. The roles of each major character are explained, and the characters interact with each other, building tension towards the mid point of the story. The mid point is where there is usually a twist in the plot. The hero is betrayed by his best friend, or an engagement is called-off, causing the protagonist to change his or her plans for the second half of the story.
Act II (second half): Pages 101-150 This is the part of the story where the new twists in the plot are explored, and is generally where we will flesh out missing details and backstory, fleshing out all the remaining details that are going to be important for the climax. This Act will end with a plot point or crisis as well, often foreshadowing the final climax of the story. The villain’s henchman is captured, or the estranged lover finds a long-lost love letter that makes her realize she is about to marry the wrong man.
Act III: Conclusion: Pages 151-200: With all the characters fully understood, missing artifacts discovered, all the back story filled in, this is where the plot usually takes off, and the action will be fast. For novel writing, this is usually where the writer has the most fun, and the reader starts to turn the pages furiously. Heros and villains are all racing towards the hidden treasure, building to the climax of the story, where the villain is killed, the hero vindicated, the wedding is stopped at the very last moment, and the dragon is slayed. After the climax, a chapter or two of denouement closes any remaining loose ends and the story comes to a close.
Now I should note here that if you are interested in novel writing, I am by no means saying you need to follow this structure. I don’t make the rules. The examples I gave are just guidelines, and by no means should you be worrying if any of your Acts are longer or shorter by a few or several pages. But by understanding the basics of structure, you will be saving yourself a lot of revisions later on.
And if you’re not planning on writing a novel, hopefully this review of structure will help make your reading experience even more enjoyable.
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