Reedsy offers blog guides as well as experienced professionals to help you structure and develop your stories. Here’s what you’ll find on this platform for indie authors.
Learn About Key Story Structures
There are many structures you can use for your stories, but to illustrate the sheer variety of structures, let’s take a look at four of them. See what they’re about, and adapt them to your needs.
1. Freytag’s Pyramid
Reedsy’s guide on Freytag’s pyramid details its origin and basic layout. Inspired by Greek and Shakespearean dramas, it has the following structure, including a turning point of some sort that gives the protagonist’s story its ultimate push toward its tragic end:
Introduction Rise Climax Return Catastrophe
2. Hero’s Journey
Here’s another very common storytelling structure. Reedsy describes the Hero’s Journey as having three stages, coined by Joseph Campbell:
The Departure Act: the hero leaves their ordinary life The Initiation Act: the hero faces the unknown and its challenges The Return Act: the hero returns transformed
3. Story Circle
Dan Harmon expanded the Hero’s Journey into a structure with a greater narrative arc. According to Reedsy’s Dan Harmon Story Circle guide, it has several stages:
Ordinary World Call to Adventure Refusal of the Call Meeting the Mentor Crossing the Threshold Tests, Allies, Enemies Approach to the Innermost Cave Ordeal Reward (Seizing the Sword) The Road Back Resurrection
4. Save the Cat
Courtesy of Blake Snyder, this structure was originally for screenplays, but literature quickly adopted it. Explore the Save the Cat beat sheet on Reedsy and learn how to use it to get your readers to like a character.
Get to know these and other story structures with Reedsy’s help. At the same time, enrich your story by using handy software like world-building apps for Android. All of these tools can take your creative writing to the next level.
Find Developmental Editors
No matter how much research you do or how long you work on your book, there’s always room for improvement. And sometimes you need a second pair of eyes to spot a story’s flaws.
A developmental editor is invaluable when it comes to making a narrative as powerful as possible. They look at big-picture factors like plot, characters, and how well you address your target audience’s expectations. Story structures and other industry-accepted tropes serve as guides.
If you need help with your narrative, the developmental editors on Reedsy should be your first stop. You can sort through them by genre and location, study their individual profiles for the best matches, and request custom quotes for free.
When you find the right partner, their expertise can transform your storytelling. They can refine your narrative’s structure and help you understand how to do it yourself.
You could also look into manuscript assessment services and Reedsy’s copy editors. Every careful pass will get your book closer to perfection.
Let Your Creative Writing Evolve
Every writer is different in terms of style and ideas, but there are best practices that can benefit everyone.
One important skill is understanding popular story structures and how to develop each narrative for maximum effect. Reedsy’s resources can support this and other parts of your creative writing journey.
Keep looking for opportunities to develop your storytelling capabilities, from reading outside your genre to joining online courses.
