The 8-Point Story Arc

Source

I’ve always been all about my world-building, so short stories were brand new territory when I had to write one for a creative writing class. I went out looking for tips, templates, a checklist— something, anything to help me work it out.

Now, maybe I just took a particular liking to this template because it lined up perfectly with the story I was writing at the time... but I feel like there's a lot of potential here, thus my desire to share.

I should say, I’ve only utilised this template once or twice in early story development, so I can’t speak to its ultimate staying power. But it’s definitely been useful.

Below, you will see two versions. The former explains each point, the latter frames it more like a story.

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Version 1:

Adapted from dailywritingtips.com's "How to Structure A Story: The Eight-Point Arc" and robbgrindstaff.com's "Narrative arc: What the heck is it?"

ACT I

1.) Stasis - This is the “every-day life” in which the story is set.

2.) Trigger - Something beyond the control of the protagonist is the trigger which sparks off the story.

ACT II

3.) The quest - The trigger results in a quest.

4.) Surprise - Unexpected, but plausible. Involves one or more elements, and takes up most of the middle part of the story.

ACT III

5.) Critical Choice - A decision by the character to take a particular path – not just something that happens by chance.

6.) Climax - The highest peak of tension in the story.

ACT IV

7.) Reversal - Inevitable and probable consequence of the critical choice and climax. Should change the status of the characters – especially the protagonist.

8.) Resolution - A return to a fresh stasis, where the characters should be changed, wiser, and enlightened... but where the story being told is complete.

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Version 2:

Adapted after reading through chapter 3 in the book from which the Eight-Point Story Arc originated: Write a Novel and Get it Published: Teach Yourself

ACT I

1.) stasis - once upon a time...

2.) trigger - ...something out of the ordinary happens...

ACT II

3.) quest - ...causing the protagonist to seek something...

4.) surprise - ...but things don’t go as expected...

ACT III

5.) critical choice - ...forcing the protagonist to make a difficult decision...

6.) climax - ...which has consequences...

ACT IV

7.) reversal - ...the result of which is a change in status...

8.) resolution - ...and they all lived happily ever after (or not).

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And a few other pages that briefly describe the Eight-Point Story Arc:

The Eight Point Story Arc
The Story Arc: A Guide To Structuring A Smooth Story y Cristina R. Guarino
How to structure a short story – the 8 point arc By Graham Dinton
Have you ever heard of the 8 Point Arc? by Raj S. Randhawa
Pinterest

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If you have any questions, feel free to join us at the Fiction Workshop! We'd love to discuss it!

Thank you for reading. ^_^
~PegasusPhysics