Story Structure Explanation

The Three-Level Hierarchy

Firstory organizes stories into three connected levels:

Acts (Largest)

The major movements of your story:

• Act 1: Setup — Introduce world, characters, and establish the status quo
• Act 2: Confrontation — The central conflict; characters face obstacles and challenges
• Act 3: Resolution — Consequences revealed; story concludes

Typical story: 3 acts (but you can use more for complex stories).

Sequences (Middle)

Smaller story units within acts, usually 15-30 pages:

• Each sequence has a clear beginning, middle, and end
• Contains multiple scenes building toward a turning point
• Example: "Sequence 1: First Meeting with the Antagonist"

A typical act contains 2-4 sequences.

Scenes (Smallest)

Individual moments where action happens:

• One location, one time period, clear objective
• Contains a goal, obstacle, and consequence
• Example: "Scene: Sarah discovers the letter in the attic"

A typical sequence contains 3-5 scenes.

How to Use Structure Mode

1. Plan Your Acts — Set up the three-act structure
2. Add Sequences — Break each act into story units
3. Create Scenes — Define individual moments
4. Write Scenes — Fill each scene with prose

Structure Best Practices

• Start with Acts — Understand your major story movements first
• Plan Sequences — Know what each sequence accomplishes
• Write Scenes — Add prose to each scene one at a time
• Review Alignment — Make sure each scene serves its sequence's purpose

Example: Romance Story

ACT 1: Setup
├─ Sequence 1: Meet at a party (3 scenes)
├─ Sequence 2: First coffee date (2 scenes)
└─ Sequence 3: Complications arise (3 scenes)

ACT 2: Confrontation
├─ Sequence 4: Misunderstanding (3 scenes)
├─ Sequence 5: Deepening conflict (4 scenes)
└─ Sequence 6: Crisis point (2 scenes)

ACT 3: Resolution
├─ Sequence 7: Truth revealed (2 scenes)
└─ Sequence 8: New beginning (2 scenes)

Tips for Story Organization

• Outline First — Use Sequence view to plan before writing scenes
• Keep Scenes Focused — One scene = one objective
• Use Beat Sheets — Add Beats (goal, obstacle, stakes, turn) to each sequence
• Check Pacing — Are your acts balanced? Does each sequence have clear purpose?

Viewing Your Structure

• Structure View — See your entire story hierarchy at a glance
• Chapter View — Read sequentially from beginning to end
• Scene Cards — Quick preview of each scene's objective and state