Published: January 5, 2020 | Last Updated: December 19, 2024
Every great script starts with a solid foundation, and storytelling formulas are the tools that help you build it. Whether crafting a character-driven drama or a high-stakes thriller, the right structure keeps your plot focused and your characters compelling.
To structure plots and develop characters, you can use the Save the Cat Beat Sheet, Hero’s Journey, 3-Act Structure, 5-Act Structure, and Dan Harmon’s Story Circle. This guide breaks down these popular storytelling formulas, giving you a quick, practical overview of the frameworks that can take your script to the next level.
1. Save The Cat Beat Sheet
Developed by screenwriter Blake Snyder, the Save the Cat (2005) beat sheet divides a film’s story into 15 story beats or plot points.
This structure helps create a solid and compelling arc and highlights how characters change. It stresses making the protagonist likable early in the story, which inspired the name Save the Cat.
The Save the Cat Story Beat Sheet
Example: “The Lego Movie” – This film follows the Save the Cat structure closely, with clear beats such as the opening image, the theme stated, and the Night of the Soul before reaching its resolution.
Read more about this story beat sheet in Save The Cat! Beat Sheet Explained. What It Is, And How To Use It.
2. Hero’s Journey
Joseph Campbell introduced the concept of the Hero’s Journey or Monomyth, a universal narrative structure found in myths across cultures. The stages include the Call to Adventure, Meeting the Mentor, Crossing the Threshold, the Road of Trials, the Return, and more.
For example, Star Wars: A New Hope (1977) follows Luke Skywalker’s transformation from a farm boy to a hero who helps destroy the Death Star, reflecting nearly all stages of the Hero’s Journey.
Read more about The Hero’s Journey in Campbell’s Monomyth: A Guide To The Heros Journey
3. 3-Act Structure
Perhaps the most classic narrative structure, the 3-act Structure, divides the story into three parts: the Setup (introducing characters and the conflict), the Confrontation (with rising action and complications), and the Resolution (where conflicts are resolved). This structure is highly versatile and can be adapted to various stories.
Example: The Godfather (1972) is a great example of the 3-Act Structure. The setup features Vito Corleone’s daughter’s wedding, the confrontation focuses on Michael Corleone’s growing involvement in the family’s business, and the resolution highlights his rise to power.
Read more about narrative and story structures.
4. 5-Act Structure
Originating from classical drama, the 5-act Structure offers a more detailed division of narrative progression: Exposition (prologue/introduction), Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Denouement. This structure allows for a more nuanced development of plot and character.
Example: Hamlet (1603)—Though originally a play, many film adaptations use the three-act Structure. The setup shows Hamlet learning of his father’s murder, the confrontation centers on his plotting and clashes with Claudius, and the resolution unfolds tragically in the final confrontation.
5. Dan Harmon’s Story Circle
Inspired by the Hero’s Journey, Dan Harmon’s Story Circle is an eight-point narrative structure focusing on the characters’ psychological journeys. It starts with a character in a zone of comfort. They want something, enter an unfamiliar situation, adapt to it, get what they want, pay a heavy price, and then return to their familiar situation, having changed.
Example: Rick and Morty (2013)—As one of Dan Harmon’s creations, many episodes follow the Story Circle structure. Rick and Morty begin in their familiar world, venture into chaotic interdimensional adventures, face challenges, and return to their starting point changed in some way.
See more in The Dan Harmon Story Circle Explained
5. The Sequence Approach
The Sequence Approach splits a screenplay into smaller sections, each with its mini-arc. The Mini-Movie Method builds on this by treating each act as a complete “mini-movie.”
Example: Pulp Fiction (1994) is a great example of the Sequence Approach. It breaks its story into episodic sections, each working as self-contained while connecting to the larger plot. This structure makes the nonlinear storytelling and character growth stand out.
Summing Up
To structure plots and develop characters, you can use the Save the Cat Beat Sheet, Hero’s Journey, 3-Act Structure, 5-Act Structure, and Dan Harmon’s Story Circle. Consider them frameworks for structuring stories and adapting them to different genres and styles.
Up Next: What is the Climax in a screenplay?
