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  • Writer's Digest

    SCREENPLAY STORY STRUCTURE

    Oct 30, 2019 5 minutes
    BY JEANNE VEILLETTE BOWERMAN

    Since most writers imagine their novels being adapted for the big screen, why not structure your book like a screenplay? Compelling screenplay structure requires arranging your story elements into a specific chronological order so that you elicit the perfect emotional response from your audience.

    Story structure refers to the way in which the characters, events, reactions, and outcomes of a story are organized in order to create a solid plot, interesting conflicts, and meaningful character development.

    Simply put, traditional story structure always contains a clear beginning, middle, and end. Act I is all setup. Act II is confrontation. Act III is resolution.

    Screenplays usually clock in at 110 pages. This isn’t a rule you can’t break, but it is one you need to be aware of. With 110 pages, every word is real estate. Choose wisely.

    ACT I TRADITIONAL ELEMENTS

    Occurs from the first page to approximately

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