Alternative story structures

Different ways to tell your story

We previously discussed story structure back in May 2024 with ‘Story Structure: How it Happens.’ At that time, the focus was on a few of the most common structures.

Today, we’ll review those briefly, then dive into some alternative story structures.

While this article is focused on novel structures, these can be applied to creative nonfiction, such as memoirs, and with some adaptation, to short stories.

One basic to remember is the definition of structure, as I use it (yes, other writers, editors, and instructors may define it differently).

Story structure review

If plot is “what happens,” structure is “how it happens.” The structure is the organization of the events and scenes in the plot. The structure unfolds the plot in a way that keeps readers engaged and wanting to know what happens next.

Let’s do a quick review.

Chronological/linear

The most basic and most common structure. Always a good choice. It begins at the beginning and ends at the end. There might be flashbacks, but it tells the story from start to finish in a chronological path.

In medias res

The fancy-schmancy Latin phrase means “in the middle of things.” In story structure, it refers to starting the story as things are already happening, leaving off any significant prior setup. That backstory and stasis can be filtered in later and gradually.

Frame story

Photo by Angèle Kamp on Unsplash

A frame story starts near the end, even with the climactic scene (without giving away the ending), then drops back to the chronological beginning of the story to carry forward to that opening frame scene, then on through the climax to resolution.

Dual storylines/timelines

Sometimes called parallel structure, this is a story that is really two stories that merge and impact each other at some point. It may be two (or more) characters, each involved in his or her own story.

This is more than telling the same story from two different perspectives. It’s two unique plots that will eventually intersect.

A story may also be told from two separate points in time. This might be from the same character (younger and older versions) or two different characters who might never meet — maybe even hundreds of years apart.

And yes, this can be even more than two storylines.

Three-act play structure

We spent a good amount of time on this basic three-act structure here, and mentioned a few other variations on it. The three-act play structure can be used in conjunction with any of the structures listed above.

For a more in-depth look at all of this, see our earlier four-part series titled Arc of the Covenant.

Alternative structures

But wait... that’s not all. Those were only the basic, most common structures.

Let’s take a brief look at some additional structures. If you’ve got a complex story to tell – or need to make your story more complex – you might find the right tool in this list.