K.M. Weiland - 5 Secrets of Story Structure: How to Write a Novel That Stands Out

THE 5 SECRETS OF STORY STRUCTURE

How to Write a Novel That Stands Out

K.M. Weiland

PenForASword Publishing

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Want to take your writing to the next level?

Discover the secrets of story structure other authors are overlooking!

If youve read all the books on story structure and concluded there has to be more to it than just three acts and a couple of plot points, then youre absolutely right! Its time to notch up your writing education from basic to black belt. Internationally-published author K.M. Weiland shares five secret techniques of advanced story structure.

In the multi-award-winning Structuring Your Novel , Weiland showed writers how to use a strong three-act structure to build a story with the greatest possible impact on readers. Now its time to take that knowledge to the next level.

In this supplemental book, youll learn:

• Why the Inciting Event isnt what youve always thought it is
• What your Key Event is and how to stop putting it in the wrong scene
• How to identify your Pinch Pointsand why they can make the middle of your book easier to write
• How to create the perfect Moment of Truth to move your protagonist from reaction to action
• How to ace your storys Climactic Moment every single time
• And much more!

By the time youve finished this quick read, youll know more about story structure than the vast majority of aspiring authors will ever knowand youll be ready to write an amazing novel that stands above the crowd.

Take the next step in your evolution as a writer!

Introduction

IF THERES JUST one thing that matters to your success as a writer, its story structure. Story structure is what allows authors to create stories that work every single time. Story structure is what allows you to quickly diagnose and remedy plot problems.

The fear that story structure is formulaic and difficult couldnt be farther from the truth. Story structure changed my life. The moment the foundational principles of this all-important technique clicked into place for me was the moment I came of age as a writer. Now its your turn!

If youve read my book Structuring Your Novel , youve already gained a foundation in story theory that will help your writing shine. In that book, we talked about why structure is make-or-break territory for every novel, how to create a strong three-act structure that will bring your story to life, and how to ensure your story is built to have the greatest possible impact on readers.

Now its time to take that knowledge to the next level. (And if you havent read Structuring Your Novel yet, dont worryIm going to give you a crash course in basic story structure in the next chapter.)

One of the most exciting things about being a writer is the never-ending journey of learning and discovery. Just when you think youve reached the end of a subject like story structure, you get to experience the exciting revelation that theres more!

This is exactly how I felt when I moved beyond the basics of the three-act structure to discover the five secret techniques of advanced story structure. Why are they secret? Simply because you dont see them discussed oftenand when you do, theyre often approached from a background of misconceptions.

In the following pages, youre going to learn how to master these five structural elements:

• The Inciting Event
• The Key Event
• The Pinch Points
• The Moment of Truth
• The Climactic Moment

By the time were done, youll know more about story structure than the vast majority of aspiring authors will ever knowand youll be ready to write an amazing novel that stands above the crowd.

Chapter 1

How to Structure Your Novel - in 5 Minutes!

DOES THAT TITLE sound too good to be true? Well, it isnt. No, seriously, if you read at the same pace as me (and, yes, I timed myself), then by the time youve finished reading this chapter, youll have learned how to structure an entire novel.

Who knew it was that simple, right? I didnt. I resisted structure for years, until one day I got hit in the face with a simple explanation of it. Just like thatin five minutesit changed my entire approach to writing.

10 Steps to Story Structure

I divide the prominent aspects and turning points of structure into ten basic steps. Why ten? Because if you can ace these major moments in your story, the finer details tend to fall into place around them. We can all remember ten things, right?

What are these magic ten steps that are going to lead you to a stronger, more amazing, and (dare I say?) more fun story? Lets take a look.

The First Act

1. The Hook

What Is It? Your story begins with the hook. This is your first opportunity for catching your readers attention and convincing them to read on. The Hook will always be a question (perhaps explicit, but probably implicit), piquing your readers curiosity and urging them to find out, What happens next?

Where Does It Belong? The Hook must show up in your first chapter, preferably on the first page, and even more preferably in the first line.

2. The Inciting Event

What Is It? The Inciting Event is the turning point in the First Act when your character first brushes the storys main conflict. To identify your Inciting Event, ask yourself, What event starts the ball rolling in my storys plot? Where does the conflict begin? What sets the storys action in motion?

Where Does It Belong? The Inciting Event is the turning point halfway through the First Act (one of the secret pieces of story structure!). This timing allows for the storys Normal World to be properly established. Dont confuse the Inciting Event with the Hook. The Hook will be the first in the line of causal dominoes, bumping one scene into the other, but your protagonist wont come into direct contact with the main conflict until the Inciting Event later in the First Act.

3. The Key Event

What Is It? If the Inciting Event is where your protagonist first encounters the main conflict, the Key Event is what irrevocably engages your protagonist with that conflict. Even if you have a great big Inciting Event (like, say, the beginning of a war), it cant affect your character until the Key Event drags him into the mess (as would happen if he were drafted into the Army).

Where Does It Belong? The Key Event occurs toward the end of the First Act. Often, it will be so closely linked to the following First Plot Point as to be almost inextricable. Other times, the Key Event and the First Plot Point will be two distinct moments. More on the Key Event in Chapter 3.

4. The First Plot Point

What Is It? The First Plot Point marks the end of the First Act and the beginning of the Second. This is where everything changes for your character. Up to now, the First Act has mostly concerned itself with setting up your characters Normal World and introducing the supporting characters, the settings, and, most importantly, the stakes. But now, the First Plot Point rocks that Normal World. Everything changes, and your protagonist will be forced to start reacting to the new status quo.

Where Does It Belong? The First Plot Point will occur roundabout the 25% mark in your book. This placement doesnt have to be absolutely precise, since a book is long enough to allow a less than exact structural timeline. But aim to have your major plot points dividing your book into rough quarters.