The 7-Point Story Structure (2024)

STORY STRUCTURES

To create a narrative, it is necessary to think of a well-defined structure so that nothing is left to chance.
There are particular narrative techniques that we have discussed extensively in the Narrative Technique Series, as well as Story Structure Series, that come to the writer’s aid. Between them, there is the 7-Point Story Structure.

The main goal of the Story Structure is to create a story that is as compelling as possible, that meets all the requirements of a narrative that captures the reader’s attention from the very first lines.

The 7-Point Structure is rather complex, consisting of dividing the narrative structure into seven different parts. It is a complex structure, but it also allows you to work backward, starting from the ending to the story’s beginning. This structure’s secret is to add an event at each step so that there is a crescendo of action during the story.

Below is the structure of the 7-Points:

1. The Hook
2. The Plot Turn 1
3. The Pinch Point 1
4. The Midpoint
5. The Pinch Point 2
6. The Plot Turn 2
7. The Resolution

This is the hook of the story, the point that must grab the reader’s attention from the first sentences. The writer introduces the story, the context, and the narrative’s protagonist in this part.

Here a particular event marks the beginning of the narrative. The protagonist gets involved, and this is where the action of the story begins.

After getting to know the protagonist, this is the moment to introduce the antagonist. This character is meant to hinder the protagonist’s exploits, adding more action to the story.

Up to this point, the main character has ‘only’ reacted to the sequence of events. From the beginning, they have adapted to the change, to the event from which the whole story began. At this point, however, the main character takes the situation into their hands and reacts.

Like Pinch Point 1, the protagonist is under more pressure than the first time.
The added pressure of this phase characterizes the loss of something essential or someone dear. The protagonist feels abandoned and lost but must continue to act to achieve a happy ending.

When all seems lost, the protagonist realizes a way out and how to defeat the antagonist. We move towards the conclusion of the story and the final confrontation.

This is the final act, or climax, the point of the greatest tension in the whole narrative. The protagonist faces the last step of this journey. They may not win at all costs, but they will fight and try to get to the end with all their might.

Let’s take “ Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone “ as an example. There is also a beautiful film based on a book of the same name.

As a first point, the Hook, we get to know Harry Potter and the story’s context. He lives with his aunt and uncle in a basem*nt. He later discovers that he is a wizard and that his destiny is to go to Hogwarts, the school of magic. This phase is Plot Turn 1, i.e., the first turning point in the plot.

The antagonist begins to be recognized. A troll attacks the school, and Harry Potter confronts it. This corresponds to Pinch Point 1. When they arrive at the Midpoint, Harry Potter and his companions discover more about Voldemort and the Philosopher’s Stone. They realize they must have it before Voldemort gets it.

In Pinch Point 2, Harry finds himself alone to face his enemy. His companions have been stopped in the previous action and cannot help him. When everything seems to have no happy ending for Harry, the mirror shows him where to find the Philosopher’s Stone now that Harry has revealed how pure his soul and intentions are. This concludes Plot Turn 2.

In the story’s conclusion, the Resolution, Harry succeeds in his task, and Voldemort is defeated. This time.

There is no good and evil, there is only power and those too weak to seek it.

Voldemort- Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

The 7-Point Structure is a structure that divides the narrative into 7 points.

Each point, each new phase, brings something new to the story until you get to the final point, the climax, which is the highest point in the story with more action and tension.