Facebook Pixel
Searching...
English
EnglishEnglish
EspañolSpanish
简体中文Chinese
FrançaisFrench
DeutschGerman
日本語Japanese
PortuguêsPortuguese
ItalianoItalian
한국어Korean
РусскийRussian
NederlandsDutch
العربيةArabic
PolskiPolish
हिन्दीHindi
Tiếng ViệtVietnamese
SvenskaSwedish
ΕλληνικάGreek
TürkçeTurkish
ไทยThai
ČeštinaCzech
RomânăRomanian
MagyarHungarian
УкраїнськаUkrainian
Bahasa IndonesiaIndonesian
DanskDanish
SuomiFinnish
БългарскиBulgarian
עבריתHebrew
NorskNorwegian
HrvatskiCroatian
CatalàCatalan
SlovenčinaSlovak
LietuviųLithuanian
SlovenščinaSlovenian
СрпскиSerbian
EestiEstonian
LatviešuLatvian
فارسیPersian
മലയാളംMalayalam
தமிழ்Tamil
اردوUrdu
Story Trumps Structure

Story Trumps Structure

How to Write Unforgettable Fiction by Breaking the Rules
by Steven James 2014 306 pages
4.39
500+ ratings
Listen

Key Takeaways

1. Stories thrive on tension, not plot or character

At its core, when you strip everything away, what is a story? Do all stories, regardless of genre, share some characteristics?

Tension is key. Stories are fundamentally about characters in conflict, caught between their present condition and their unmet desires. This tension drives the narrative forward, not plot points or character development alone. Effective storytelling involves introducing and escalating tension throughout the narrative.

  • Three types of struggles interweave in stories:
    • Internal struggles (questions that need answers)
    • External struggles (problems that need solutions)
    • Interpersonal struggles (relationships that need development)

The more profound the internal struggle, the more significant the character's transformation. External struggles reveal character traits, while internal and interpersonal struggles serve to transform the protagonist.

2. Organic writing trumps rigid outlining

Story trumps structure, and structure trumps grammar—not the other way around.

Trust the process. Organic writing allows for a more natural and intuitive approach to storytelling. Instead of rigidly adhering to a predetermined outline, writers should focus on asking the right questions and letting the narrative forces shape their story.

Three essential questions to guide organic writing:

  1. "What would this character naturally do in this situation?"
  2. "How can I make things worse?"
  3. "How can I end this in a way that's unexpected and inevitable?"

By responding to these questions and staying attuned to the story's evolving needs, writers can create more engaging and believable narratives that resonate with readers.

3. Causality and believability are crucial for story flow

Everything that happens in a story is caused by the thing that precedes it.

Maintain logical progression. Causality and believability are fundamental to keeping readers engaged in the story. Events should follow logically from what precedes them, and characters should act in contextually believable ways.

Key principles for maintaining causality and believability:

  • Ensure actions are properly motivated
  • Avoid coincidences and deus ex machina resolutions
  • Foreshadow important events and skills
  • Present a chain of evidence for implausible scenarios
  • Allow characters to question unbelievable situations

By adhering to these principles, writers can create a seamless narrative flow that keeps readers immersed in the story world.

4. Promises and payoffs drive reader engagement

Stories are built on promises.

Fulfill reader expectations. Every word, scene, and character description in a story is a promise to the reader about its significance. Writers must carefully manage these promises and deliver satisfying payoffs to maintain reader engagement.

Types of promises in storytelling:

  • Explicit promises (direct statements or clear implications)
  • Implicit promises (subtle hints or narrative weight)
  • Genre-based promises (expectations set by the story's category)

To keep readers invested, writers should:

  • Make big promises early in the story
  • Escalate tension as the story progresses
  • Deliver on promises at the right moment
  • Avoid breaking promises or leaving them unfulfilled

5. Twists should be unexpected yet inevitable

In retrospect, they will see that everything was pointing in that direction all along.

Balance surprise and logic. Effective plot twists should catch readers off guard while still making perfect sense within the context of the story. This delicate balance keeps readers engaged and satisfied with the narrative's progression.

Elements of a successful twist:

  1. Unexpected: Readers shouldn't see it coming
  2. Inevitable: It should make perfect sense in hindsight
  3. Escalation: It should raise the stakes of the story
  4. Revelation: It should add new meaning to previous events

To craft compelling twists, writers should:

  • Create multiple worlds of inevitability
  • Redirect suspicion away from the true outcome
  • Eliminate obvious solutions
  • Avoid gimmicks and clichés

6. Effective characterization relies on variable status

Variable status is the key to dimensionality.

Develop complex characters. Status – the level of dominance or submission in social interactions – is a crucial element of characterization. By showing how a character's status varies in different situations and relationships, writers can create more nuanced and memorable characters.

Aspects of status in characterization:

  • Relational status (based on relationships)
  • Positional status (based on roles or titles)
  • Situational status (based on specific circumstances)

To create well-rounded characters:

  • Show status variations across different contexts
  • Use word choice and body language to convey status
  • Provide opportunities for characters to be heroic
  • Balance high and low status moments for protagonists

7. Fiction should reflect life's agathokakological nature

We humans have agathokakological hearts.

Embrace complexity. Effective fiction should reflect the dual nature of human existence, encompassing both good and evil, beauty and ugliness, joy and sorrow. By presenting this complex reality, writers can create more impactful and truthful stories.

Principles for reflecting life's agathokakological nature:

  • Avoid romanticizing or simplifying human nature
  • Present both the glory and the pain of existence
  • Explore moral dilemmas and ethical complexities
  • Show characters struggling with their own contradictions

By embracing this multifaceted approach to storytelling, writers can create fiction that resonates deeply with readers and offers genuine insights into the human condition.

Last updated:

Review Summary

4.39 out of 5
Average of 500+ ratings from Goodreads and Amazon.

Story Trumps Structure receives mostly positive reviews for its approach to organic writing without strict outlines. Readers appreciate its advice for "pantsers" and its focus on storytelling principles rather than rigid structures. Many find it helpful for improving their writing process and overcoming creative blocks. However, some criticize its tone as condescending and its examples as outdated or genre-specific. Overall, reviewers value its fresh perspective on writing craft, though opinions vary on its effectiveness across different genres and writing styles.

Your rating:

About the Author

Steven James is a bestselling author of eighteen novels and numerous nonfiction books, with over 1 million copies sold. His works have garnered critical acclaim and numerous awards. James holds a master's degree in storytelling and has appeared at thousands of events worldwide, teaching storytelling principles. He hosts "The Story Blender" podcast, interviewing leading writers and storytellers. In 2020, he was inducted into the Christy Award Hall of Fame for fiction writing excellence. Publishers Weekly has praised him as a master storyteller. When not writing or speaking, James enjoys basketball, disc golf, and hiking near his home in East Tennessee.

Download PDF

To save this Story Trumps Structure summary for later, download the free PDF. You can print it out, or read offline at your convenience.
Download PDF
File size: 0.41 MB     Pages: 9

Download EPUB

To read this Story Trumps Structure summary on your e-reader device or app, download the free EPUB. The .epub digital book format is ideal for reading ebooks on phones, tablets, and e-readers.
Download EPUB
File size: 3.15 MB     Pages: 6
0:00
-0:00
1x
Dan
Andrew
Michelle
Lauren
Select Speed
1.0×
+
200 words per minute
Create a free account to unlock:
Bookmarks – save your favorite books
History – revisit books later
Ratings – rate books & see your ratings
Unlock unlimited listening
Your first week's on us!
Today: Get Instant Access
Listen to full summaries of 73,530 books. That's 12,000+ hours of audio!
Day 4: Trial Reminder
We'll send you a notification that your trial is ending soon.
Day 7: Your subscription begins
You'll be charged on Nov 21,
cancel anytime before.
Compare Features Free Pro
Read full text summaries
Summaries are free to read for everyone
Listen to summaries
12,000+ hours of audio
Unlimited Bookmarks
Free users are limited to 10
Unlimited History
Free users are limited to 10
What our users say
30,000+ readers
“...I can 10x the number of books I can read...”
“...exceptionally accurate, engaging, and beautifully presented...”
“...better than any amazon review when I'm making a book-buying decision...”
Save 62%
Yearly
$119.88 $44.99/yr
$3.75/mo
Monthly
$9.99/mo
Try Free & Unlock
7 days free, then $44.99/year. Cancel anytime.
Settings
Appearance