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Guidelines for writing Poems, Stories and Tales

“There are considered to be only seven or so actual plots” – is this true?

Asked by: Joe Steed

What are the seven types of plots?

The plots

  • Overcoming the monster.
  • Rags to riches.
  • The quest.
  • Voyage and return.
  • Comedy.
  • Tragedy.
  • Rebirth.

How many story archetypes are there?

seven story archetypes

In the collective history of literature, theater, and film, seven story archetypes recur over and over again. Referred to as “the seven basic plots” by the literary theorist Christopher Booker, these common archetypes have guided storytelling for countless generations.

How many plots are there in a short story?

The short story usually has one plot so it can be read in one sitting.

What kind of plots are there?

7 Types of Plots

  • Tragedy. In a tragedy, your main character should undergo a major change of fortune — almost always from good to bad, happy to sad. …
  • Comedy. …
  • Hero’s Journey. …
  • Rags to Riches. …
  • Rebirth. …
  • Overcoming the Monster. …
  • Voyage and Return.

Is it true there are only 36 plots?

The author Ronald Tobias, the researchers point out, came up with 20 “master plots”, including “underdog”, “metamorphosis”, “ascension” and “descension”. Georges Polti topped Tobias with 36: ranging from “rivalry of kinsmen” to “falling prey to cruelty of misfortune”.

What are the 7 character archetypes?

The Archetypes

  • Hero. A hero willingly sacrifices their needs for others. …
  • Mentor. A teacher or trainer who aids the hero by teaching and protecting them. …
  • Threshold Guardian. A character who serves to keep the unworthy from entering. …
  • Herald. …
  • Shadow. …
  • Trickster. …
  • Shapeshifter.

How many character archetypes are there?

Here are the 12 common character archetypes, as well as examples of archetype in famous works of literature and film.



  • The Lover.
  • The Hero.
  • The Magician.
  • The Outlaw.
  • The Explorer.
  • The Sage.
  • The Innocent.
  • The Creator.

What are the 9 plots?

So, without further ado, here are the nine basic plots…

  • Overcoming the Monster. Overcoming the Monster stories involve a hero who must destroy a monster (or villain) that is threatening the community. …
  • Rags to Riches. …
  • Quest. …
  • Voyage and Return. …
  • Comedy. …
  • Tragedy. …
  • Rebirth.

How many plot structures are there?

seven

Many academics, most notably author Christopher Booker, believe there are only seven basic narrative plots in all of storytelling – frameworks that are recycled again and again in fiction but populated by different settings, characters, and conflicts. Those seven types of story are: Overcoming the Monster.

How many plots are in a novel?

When writing a novel, you need to use more than one plotline. In fact, most successful books need at least three. If they only have one or two, the story will feel flat, bloated, or repetitive, because the writer doesn’t have adequate variety to draw from. But it’s not enough to just pick any three plotlines.



How many plots should a story have?

Every novel has at least one plot. In simple terms, a plot is a sequence of connected events that are bound together by cause and effort. The subplot is a side story that exists within the main plot. The subplot is connected to the main story but never overpowers it.

Can a novel have many plots?

In truth, a novel can have many storylines. Obviously, the downside is that if it has too many then the novel will become overcomplicated, hard to follow and a chore to read. They should never overshadow the main story plot and never become too many that they swamp the main story entirely.

Can a book have multiple plots?

Weaving several plot lines through a story creates a multilevel narrative arc. A story with just a main plot can come off as flat, but a story with subplots in addition to the main plot has complexity and depth. This makes the story more engaging for readers. Subplots intensify the conflict.

How many plots can a movie have?

There are just SIX plots in every film, book and TV show ever made: Researchers reveal the ‘building blocks’ of storytelling. From Harry Potter and Romeo and Juliet to the stories of Oedipus and Icarus, almost every tale told conforms to one of just six plots, researchers have claimed.

What is a dual plot?

A dual narrative is a form of narrative that tells a story in two different perspectives, usually two different people. Dual narrative is also an effective technique that can be used to tell the story of people (or one person) at two different points in time (Postcards from No Man’s Land, Great Expectations).



How do you write multiple plots?

Here’s a simple way to create multiple storylines:

  1. Write each storyline as its own separate story—beginning, middle, and end—with (temporary) chapters. …
  2. Once you have ALL of your individual storylines written out, pick a color to represent each story, and print each one on its corresponding color of paper.

Why might a story have more than one plot?

One reason for a narrative to have multiple plot lines is to create suspense throughout the course of the story’s plot. Another reason is the emphasize a central theme to which multiple sub-plots contribute.

What is a plot line of a story?

What is a plot line? The plot line of a story is the direction that the plot takes or the plot itself—what the story is about, including the action and events that the story tells about. It is often spelled as one word, as plotline.



What is plot in a story examples?

“We have defined a story as a narrative of events arranged in their time-sequence. A plot is also a narrative of events, the emphasis falling on causality. ‘The king died and then the queen died,’ is a story. ‘The king died, and then the queen died of grief’ is a plot.

What are the 5 plots of a story?

There are 5 elements of plot:

  • Exposition.
  • Rising Action.
  • Climax.
  • Falling Action.
  • Conclusion.

How do you write a plot?

10 Tips for Plotting Your Novel: Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Generate ideas. …
  2. Start with a simple, compelling premise. …
  3. Have a clear central conflict. …
  4. Choose your structure. …
  5. Trace out general story arcs. …
  6. Build subplots. …
  7. Think about cause and effect. …
  8. Write a detailed outline.