The Key2Story
Plot Formula Guide
Pre-story. Establish the time, setting, and social context of the status quo in your story. This should be clear within the first paragraph of your synopsis.
Star Wars IV – A New Hope: A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away… It is a period of civil war. Rebel spies managed to steal secret plans to the Empire’s ultimate weapon, the DEATH STAR, an armored space station with enough power to destroy an entire planet. Pursued by the Empire’s sinister agents, Princess Leia races home aboard her starship, custodian of the stolen plans that can save her people and restore freedom to the galaxy….
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: Harry is “The Boy Who Lived.” When Voldemort killed his parents, he alone survived. Now Harry is almost 11, and he lives under the stairs with his aunt and uncle in a small suburb outside contemporary London.
The Hunger Games: Panem is a country made up of 12 Districts surrounding the Capitol. To prevent war and uprisings, each District must compete every year in the Hunger Games, where two teens from each District are drawn at random and must fight to the death for the entertainment of the Capitol.
Introduce your main character. Who is the main character of your story? This may be worked in with the pre-story information above, and it may even be in the first sentence of your synopsis.
Star Wars IV – A New Hope: Luke Skywalker (19)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: Harry Potter (11)
The Hunger Games: Katniss Everdeen (16)
The Inciting Incident or IED. Think of the big thing that happens at the beginning of your story that shatters your status quo. The inciting incident is the catalyst for the story—it’s what pulls your main character into the story and then starts the forward action of the main story line. This is often where the main character realizes their story goal, and that goal is established for the reader. Very rarely, this goal is unrealized and isn’t revealed to the reader until later in the story. It is also important to realize that behind almost every action, a character is the one who made that action happen. Who caused that action should be clear in the synopsis. We’ve underlined the characters who start the story in the examples below. (Note: sometimes a story is started by a force and not a character, such as force of nature like the hurricane in Nation by Terry Pratchett, a man-made force like an army, or even a natural force such as death, murder, or illness.)
Star Wars IV – A New Hope: Princess Leia sends a message with R2-D2, giving him the battlestar plans. Luke is told to buy droids for the farm, and R2-D2 is chosen.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: A letter from Hogwarts is sent to Harry, telling him he is a wizard and inviting him to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
The Hunger Games: When the Capitol draws Prim’s name and is chosen to be Tribute for District Twelve, Katniss volunteers to take her place.
Middle. This is where you reveal what creates noise and chaos in the main character’s life and what is preventing the character from reaching their goal(s).
Star Wars IV – A New Hope: Imperial stormtroopers kill Luke’s aunt and uncle, and Luke decides to join forces with the Rebels to fight against the Empire.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: Harry finds himself breaking one rule after another as he stumbles into adventures that are not part of his normal school curriculum. These adventures include facing a troll, helping transport a baby dragon, and fighting off the school bully, Draco Malfoy, all while trying to find out who the mysterious Nicholas Flammel is.
The Hunger Games: Katniss must compete against the other Tributes in the Hunger Games, and she is unsure if she can trust the other boy from her District, Peeta.
Calm Before the Storm. Generally before you hit the climax, there should be a calm moment for your main character to counter balance the climax to come.
Star Wars IV – A New Hope: Luke, Leia, and Han are all at the Rebel Base as they go over the Death Star plans and strategize.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: Harry goes through finals and has a moment to relax with his friends before Hagrid mentions key information, and Harry has his realization.
The Hunger Games: Katniss and Peeta are in the arena and have a quiet moment to rest and heal before the big climax.
Climax. During the climax, there is generally an “all is lost moment.” They may also win or lose when it comes to their internal and external goals, and they may grow as a character.
Star Wars IV – A New Hope: Luke and the other Rebels attempt to destroy the Death Star in an epic space battle.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: Harry, Ron, and Hermione go through the trap door to save the Sorcerer’s Stone.
The Hunger Games: Katniss and Peeta have to fight off a pack of mutts and the last Tribute to become victors.
Hero Moment. This is the moment where your hero either ultimately wins or loses within the story.
Star Wars IV – A New Hope: Using the Force, Luke hits the target perfectly and blows up the Death Star. Darth Vader goes tumbling away into space as the rest of the Empire is destroyed.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: Harry faces Quirrell, and, ultimately, Voldemort. He keeps him away from the stone until Dumbledore arrives.
The Hunger Games: Katniss and Peeta both decide to eat the poisonous berries rather than kill each other. This forces the gamekeeper’s hand, and both are allowed to live.
Post Story. This is also known as the story’s denouement or falling action. This is what happens after the main action of your story has concluded and is now being wrapped up. This will be your last chapter, or even just the last page or two of the story. While there may be a question or two left in the reader’s mind, all other questions are wrapped up as your new status quo is now re-established for the reader.
Star Wars IV – A New Hope: Luke and Han are given medals to reward their heroism.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: Harry gets on the train to go back to the Dursleys’.
The Hunger Games: With the President’s threat hanging over her head, Katniss goes back to her District with Peeta, who now realizes that the romance between them was false.