%% date:: [[2022-08-17]], [[2023-01-04]] %% # [[Three-Act Structure]] In [[Writing]], the three-act structure is a storytelling method for laying out an engaging plot.  [^1]  [^2] ## Act 1: Setup (~25% of story) - Exposition (setting the scene) - Inciting Incident - Something big that shakes the hero's life and causes the story to happen - "Call to adventure" > Author and editor Kristen Kieffer suggests asking yourself the following questions to help you craft the inciting incident: > > How is my protagonist dissatisfied with their life? > What would it take for my protagonist to find satisfaction? (This is their goal). > What are my protagonist’s biggest fears and character flaws? > How would the actions that my protagonist needs to take to find satisfaction force them to confront their fears and/or flaws? [^1] - Plot Point 1 - When the hero makes the decision on how to react to the inciting incident. - Ex: Katniss volunteering for Prim. ## Act 2: Confrontation (~50% of the story) - Rising Action (building up to climax) - Elaborate on overarching conflict and characters - Midpoint - Literally halfway through the story - Threaten the chances of the hero's success - Increase the stakes of the hero's failure - Plot Point 2 - Reaction to the setback in the Midpoint: how will the hero take back the reins? - Show strength in the character's resolve and start having them actually fight back ## Act 3: Resolution (~25% or less) - Pre-Climax - Final clash of hero and villain - Villain's revealed strength surprises hero - Introduce doubt as to whether or not hero will succeed - Could be a series of events - Climax - A single scene where the hero goes up against the villain again - Denouement (falling action) - The dust settles - However, I think ending on a high note, where something interesting has just been revealed, is far more interesting than this traditional denouement. ## Related - [[Five-Room Dungeons]] is an implementation of the three-act structure and extended to better suit [[Tabletop Roleplaying Games|TTRPGs]]. [^1]: *The three-act structure: 3 steps to a powerful story structure*. Reedsy Blog. Accessed [here](https://blog.reedsy.com/guide/story-structure/three-act-structure/) in September 2020. [^2]: McNulty, B. (2015). *Three act structure: How to write a satisfyingly structured novel*. Accessed on [Now Novel](https://www.nownovel.com/blog/three-act-formula-novels/) in May 2021.