Best Plot Structures for Fantasy

Fantasy is one of the hardest genres to write because it involves creating another world. However, developing the story is just as important. When writing fantasy, authors often use specific plot structures to get their story on track. Check out three plot structures you should know when writing fantasy below.

The Hero’s Journey

A typical plot structure for fantasy is the Hero’s Journey. For the record, another name for it is a monomyth. This involves several steps that emphasize personal transformation and character development as well as the development of the plot. Fantasy often uses this because there’s often a quest involved or a similar goal. The key is that your character doesn’t come back the same person as they once were.

The Hero’s Journey includes about 12 steps over three acts:

1. Ordinary world – the beginning of the story, where we’re introduced to the world and the character, the hero’s journey focuses on

2. The call of adventure – also the inciting incident, where the character meets the big challenge of the plot

3. Refusal of the call – the character chooses not to follow the call to adventure

4. Meeting the mentor – someone who can teach when the character arrives

5. Crossing the first threshold – the hero leaves the ordinary world

6. Tests, allies, and enemies – the hero meets new friends to help them, new enemies to deter them, and tests that develop their character

7. Approach the inmost cave – the hero seems to be getting closer to their goal

8. Ordeal – the biggest test so far happens to the character

9. Reward – the hero is rewarded for passing the test and defeating the enemy

10. The road back – like falling action, the hero must return home, but there are still a few things to resolve

11. Resurrection – the hero completes the last of their tasks

12. Return with the “elixir” – the hero returns home a changed person

Stories that use the Hero’s journey include George Lucas’s Star Wars, Christopher Paolini’s Eragon, and J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series.

Freytag’s Pyramid

Another plot structure is Freytag’s Pyramid, one of the oldest structures. This one is similar to a five-act or a three-act structure, and where terms like rising and falling action come from. The key to this structure is that the climax is the pivotal point where everything starts to unfold.

Here are the pieces of the Freytag’s Pyramid:

1. Exposition – where you’re introduced to the characters and the world

2. Inciting incident – where the story is kicked off and the events of the plot unfold

3. Rising action – where events unfold to oppose the protagonist and test them (usually three major events)

4. Climax – where everything unfolds and everything acts as a turning point

5. Falling action – where the conflict is slowly straightened out between the protagonist and the antagonist (usually three events or less)

6. Resolution – where the conflict is resolved

7. Denouement – where all the plot threads are fulfilled and all questions are answered

I read somewhere that Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House is a great example of this one, though I admit that I haven’t read it. I have, however, seen the 1963 film.

Three-Act Structure

Lastly, there’s also the three-act structure. It’s slightly different from a five-act structure, which is also similar to Freytag’s Pyramid. The three-act structure, however, doesn’t function like a pyramid. It’s more like a winding road that weaves in and around a forest.

Here are the steps:

1. Exposition – we’re introduced to the world and its characters

2. Inciting incident – things start to happen that affect the protagonist

3. Plot point 1 – a major event occurs that moves the plot forward

4. Rising action – more events happen that push the protagonist and move the story along

5. Midpoint – like the climax, it’s the most important event that occurs that throws the protagonist for a loop

6. Plot point 2 – another major event occurs that often negatively affects the protagonist and their goal

7. Pre-climax – it looks like the protagonist might fail

8. Climax – everything unfolds and the protagonist is victorious

9. Denouement – the last of the story is resolved

Examples include Suzanne Collins’s The Hunger Games and Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park.

Feel free to choose whichever structure you want! There’s no wrong decision. Just be sure to follow the steps!

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