Breaking down Three-Act Stories

A lot of things in writing come in threes.  

Three points in a sentence, three lines in a paragraph, and three parts to an article (intro, middle, ending). 

But did you know that stories also come in threes? 

Conventional story structures are made up of three different acts: act one should be about 25% of your story. Act two should be about 50%, and Act three should be 25%. 

See the chart below for a visual reference of the three-act structure.

Act One: Introduction 

In act one, you get the introduction, you're introduced to the setting, the theme, and the characters. As a storyteller, your aim is to help paint a picture of what the world of the story looks like. To give a sense of the status quo and help your audience to get their bearings and understand what's going on. Think of Narcos, if you've watched it, where you're introduced to their world with the narrator walking you through each character, and their role in the Narcos. By the end of the first act, you've got a good sense of your bearings and who everyone is, from Gustavo to Pablo. 

The trigger sets the foundation and starts you down your path. This is where the story begins. Basic information about the story is established, including the characters, setting, inciting incident, and conflict. The setup is typically fairly concise, allowing the reader to quickly get a sense of the main character’s ordinary world, what happens to upend it, and the conflict that drives what the story is about. 

However, it is also important to include enough detail to create a rich and interesting world for the reader to explore. In addition, the introduction should introduce some element of mystery or suspense that will keep the reader hooked and wanting to discover more. This is usually done through the inciting incident, which is the first true turning point of the story, where the hero’s journey and character development both begin.

Act Two: The Confrontation 

The move from act one into act two is where the conflict starts to happen, usually in the form of an inciting incident. The inciting incident is that moment within a story where conflict is initiated. The confrontation may be between the protagonist and the antagonist, or it may be internal, such as between the protagonist’s own desires and beliefs. 

Conflict is the driving force that pushes the story forward. It's what keeps the interest, the tension that holds attention. The conflict is essentially building to a climax, and this climax happens at the midpoint of Act two, where there's some sort of a plot twist. You usually see the protagonist having to change up their plan here.  

The second act is often where we see the characters grow and change the most as they are forced to confront their fears and overcome obstacles. It is also where we introduce at least one b-story, or subplot, to help flesh out character development for the hero and the other characters in support of the main character’s goal. This is typically the longest section of the story, as it contains all the major rising action and suspense that keeps readers engaged.  

There is also a point of no return, where the stakes are at their highest and the conflict is at its most intense. The protagonist crosses a threshold and can no longer return, like in The Lord of the Rings where Sam says, “This is the farthest from from Hobbiton that I've ever been.” This is the threshold, the point of no return.

We witness our character endure these series of obstacles, which tend to get progressively more difficult over time. And and with each decision the protagonist makes, we're getting a sense of their true character and who they truly are. Then, the stakes get higher. We’re approaching act three and they’re ready to face that threat head on.  

Act three: The Resolution

The third act is the story’s resolution, where everything comes together. This is typically the shortest part of the story and where the protagonist faces the final challenge. It may include a final battle for the story’s protagonist, relating back to the inciting incident, before moving into falling action, and drawing to a resolution. As you move into act three, you're entering into that final stage where the final round of confrontation is going to take place. 

And so throughout Act Three, you're having that final confrontation, resulting in that resolution where the character finally overcomes these obstacles in order to get what they want. This is where you're closing out your argument. You're wrapping up your conflict.

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