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i'm looking for short story structure

H

huxley

New Member
so is there any short storie out there that would a good exemple of short storie structer , ( exemple is it 3 point plot ,5 point plot or 7 point plot.)
 
On http://www.classicreader.com you can read many short stories on-line (or print them out if you don't like reading off the screen). I recommend O Henry. Would you care to explain what a 3- 5- or 7-point plot is? I haven't got a clue.:confused:
 
huxley said:
so is there any short storie out there that would a good exemple of short storie structer , ( exemple is it 3 point plot ,5 point plot or 7 point plot.)
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...well, first you would have to be able to spell "example," "story," or "structure."
 
ValkyrieRaven88 said:
...well, first you would have to be able to spell "example," "story," or "structure."
Click to expand...

He did spell both story and strcture right in the title... don't be such a language-police! :)
 
Lucien said:
Would you care to explain what a 3- 5- or 7-point plot is?
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Four point plot structure

1. Basic situation
2. Complication
3. Climax
4. Resolution

Five point plot structure

1. Introduction, Basic situation, Exposition
2. Rising Action, Complications
3. Climax
4. Falling Action
5. Resolution, Conclusion, Denouement

Seven point plot structure (elements of a novel)

1. character
2. context
3. problem
4. s/he tries to solve the problem (effort)
5. failure, tries and fails twice more, stakes escalating
6. victory or death (supreme effort)
7. validation (denouement)
 
Occlith said:
Four point plot structure

1. Basic situation
2. Complication
3. Climax
4. Resolution

Five point plot structure

1. Introduction, Basic situation, Exposition
2. Rising Action, Complications
3. Climax
4. Falling Action
5. Resolution, Conclusion, Denouement

Seven point plot structure (elements of a novel)

1. character
2. context
3. problem
4. s/he tries to solve the problem (effort)
5. failure, tries and fails twice more, stakes escalating
6. victory or death (supreme effort)
7. validation (denouement)
Click to expand...
Occlith,
I'm intriqued by your post, because I tend to try to see a 5-point structure in dramatic stories I read. But in narrative fiction, as opposed to stage drama, the dividing lines tend to be blurry. So I wonder whether one really can see a 7-point structure in a novel, or whether 5-point wouldn't also fit. In fact the 7 points sound like aspects of a novel, but not necessarily of its structure. Character and context as separate elements of structure, for example? Trying and trying twice, similarly, as separate elements, instead of just being Falling Action perhaps?
Just wondering. But I'm no expert (as should well be clear :) )
Peder.
 
I forgot to post the Three point plot, also called the three-act structure.

Act One
Introduction to characters and conflict
Act Two
Conflict intensifies, climax
Act Three
Resolution, denouement, or conclusion.

or

1. Beginning
setup
2. Middle
confrontation
3. End
resolution

Here are a couple of links mentioning the three-act structure in screenwriting and story writing.
 
Peder said:
So I wonder whether one really can see a 7-point structure in a novel, or whether 5-point wouldn't also fit.
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IMO, yes. I tend to think of these point plots as basic guidelines to writing, not as a formula to be slavishly followed, although I get the impression from those that mention it, that it is a good formula that many writers do follow.

In fact the 7 points sound like aspects of a novel, but not necessarily of its structure...I'm no expert
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Nor am I. In an online search, I have found writers forums and articles that quote some variation of the 7-p guidelines that were popularized by Scott Meredith, a literary agent, and Algis Budrys, an author and editor.

Algis Budrys, Seven-point plot:

1. A hero
2. is in a context
3. and has a problem. He then tries to
4. solve the problem, but makes it worse.
5. Then he tries again, and makes it even worse, so
6. on the third try he must risk everything, and he either succeeds gloriously or fails miserably. This is where the plot is resolved, at the climax of the story.
7. Finally, at the end of the story, a trustworthy neutral character steps forward and says the words that let the reader know that the story is really over, and what lesson he should take away from it. This is where the theme, as opposed to the plot, is resolved.


Scott Meredith, Seven-element story structure:

1. Character in a
2. Context with a
3. Conflict
4. Tries to solve it, but
5. Fails until the Conflict reaches a
6. Climax when the character succeeds or fails which
7. Resolves the Conflict


A variation:

The Beginning
1. Character
2. Conflict/problem
3. Setting
The Middle
4. Character tries to solve the problem
5. Character will fail, situation worsens
The End
6. Climax - character tries to solve the problem again and fails or succeeds
7. Validation

I tend to try to see a 5-point structure in dramatic stories I read.
Click to expand...
Sounds like serious a condition. Have you tried prayer and fasting? :D
 
Occlith said:
Sounds like serious a condition. Have you tried prayer and fasting? :D
Click to expand...
Occlith,
I agree that I should do something drastic ..... and long before I start seeing only 2-point structures:
1. Story.
2. End.
:)
Peder
 
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