The Storytelling Blueprint

Share: Copyright © Lucid Project, LLC • All Rights Reserved 1

 Table of Contents & thank you

Section 1: Plot Structure ................... 3

Section 2: Case Studies ....…...………. 6
Section 3: What to Do Next ….……… 13
Section 4: Thanks to the Greats .….. 14

Thank you for subscribing and being open to a new perspective.

I created this illustrated guide to show you the plot structure used in best-selling
novels. My hope is that it helps you craft a story that connects with readers.
If you find this visual guide helpful, please share

it using the buttons below.

Share: Copyright © Lucid Project, LLC • All Rights Reserved 2

 section 1: Plot structure

Illustrates the overarching plot structure used in novels (and screenplays)

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4

status quo reactivity proactivity Lucidity
a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a.
Setup Caution Attack Resolution

story goal Story goal face time story goal face time
seize face time
launch illumination 2.0 enlightenment apex
a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a.
Hook 1st Plot Point 1st Pinch Midpoint 2nd Pinch 2nd Plot Point Climax

1% 2% 24% 25% 26% 37% 50% 63% 74% 75% 76% 90% End

Captures Sets into motion Protagonist meets Twist that empowers Protagonist again Protagonist grasps Protagonist
attention the Protagonist’s Antagonist face to the Protagonist from faces Antagonist, a revelation (a final & Antagonist
with bold one unmistakable face, true threat is reacting to attacking elevated danger & missing piece) to meet in epic
question Story Goal showcased the Story Goal threat is displayed solve Story Goal confrontation

Establishes the Protagonist reacts Protagonist proactively Protagonist uses

Setting, Stakes with uncertainty to attacks the Story Goal Enlightenment to
& Characters Story Goal Launch after the Illumination conclude Story Goal
during 2% - 24% during 26% - 49% during 51% - 74% during 76% - 100%

Share: Copyright © Lucid Project, LLC • All Rights Reserved 3

 section 1: Plot structure

Closer look at the 4 Parts & initial plot milestones inside the plot structure used in novels

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4

status quo reactivity proactivity lucidity

a.k.a. Setup: a.k.a. Caution: a.k.a. Attack: a.k.a. Resolution:

• Establishes Setting, • Protagonist responds to • Protagonist charges forward • Protagonist emerges as

Characters & Stakes the launched Story Goal to solve the Story Goal hero & concludes Story
• Ramps up scenes toward • Protagonist reacts, seeks • Protagonist progresses while Goal using acquired
Protagonist’s Story Goal help, regroups, learns & still gaining the skill set vital courage, brilliance,
Launch which drives plotline processes new info, etc to complete Story Goal maturity, creativity, etc

1% 2% 24% 25% 26% 50% 51% 75% 76% End

story Goal Launch a.k.a 1st Plot Point:

seize • Initiates an unmistakable, external mission when Protagonist’s Status Quo is forever disrupted
at the end of Part 1, forcing Protagonist to enter Part 2’s Reactivity
a.k.a. Hook:
• Story Goal will regulate the flow of scenes, conflict & plotline throughout Parts 2, 3 & 4
• Captures attention with
an intriguing question
• Creates curiosity, internal goal kickoff a.k.a Character Arc:
surprise, urgency,
• Begins a psychological growth curve that parallels Protagonist’s Story Goal, serving as a subplot
conflict, emotion, etc
• Internal Goal unfolds Protagonist’s emotional maturation throughout Parts 2, 3 & 4

Share: Copyright © Lucid Project, LLC • All Rights Reserved 4

 section 1: Plot structure

Closer look at the remaining plot milestones inside the plot structure used in novels

Face time Story Goal Face time 2.0

a.k.a. 1st Pinch:
• Antagonist displays its
true essence, power, desires,
intellect, wickedness, etc
• Protagonist & Antagonist
often meet face to face right in
the middle of Part 2’s Reactivity
Illumination
a.k.a. Midpoint:
• Twist that empowers Protagonist to
flip from Reactivity to Proactivity
• Illumination parts the curtain for
Protagonist, providing a missing piece
needed to Attack the Story Goal
a.k.a. 2nd Pinch:
• Antagonist again displays its
true (& increased) power, presence,
hunger, intelligence, cruelty, etc
• Protagonist & Antagonist often
meet face to face right in the middle
of Part 3’s proactivity as well

Part 1: Part 2: Part 3: Part 4:

Beginning Status Quo Reactivity 37% 50% 63% Proactivity 75% Lucidity 90% End

story goal enlightenment a.k.a 2nd Plot Point:

• Protagonist sees the light when a final missing piece is revealed at end of part 3’s Proactivity face time apex
• Final piece equips Protagonist to enter Part 4’s Lucidity & bring Resolution to Story Goal
a.k.a. Climax:

• Protagonist & Antagonist meet

internal goal evolution a.k.a Character Peak:

in a final, epic confrontation
• Story Goal is won or lost at
• Protagonist reaches Peak of psychological growth curve, securing emotional maturity Apex, remainder of Part 4’s
to conquer past fears & navigate Part 4’s lucidity with wisdom & valor
Lucidity reveals the aftermath

Share: Copyright © Lucid Project, LLC • All Rights Reserved 5

 section 2: Case Studies — Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Click HERE if you'd like to skip straight to Section 3: What To Do Next

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4

status quo reactivity proactivity Lucidity
a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a.
Setup Caution Attack Resolution

story goal Story goal face time story goal face time
seize face time
launch illumination 2.0 enlightenment apex
a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a.
Hook 1st Plot Point 1st Pinch Midpoint 2nd Pinch 2nd Plot Point Climax

1% 2% 24% 25% 26% 38% 49% 61% 72% 73% 74% 89% End

Nick eerily Amy’s diary details Amy's flashback: Amy reveals in a Nick's flashback: Amy watches Nick Nick
describes she is afraid & she Nick gets home new journal entry Amy “doles out on TV explain he confronts
Amy’s feels she could after cheating & that she’s alive & punishment” after wants her home, Amy after
head, disappear, Nick both showcase framed Nick for her a driver cuts her he’ll make it all up, she returns
inside will have to prove their double faced disappearance & off, displaying her he’ll find her & he home bloody
& out his innocence ways & deceit soon, her murder cutthroat potential loves her forever but alive

Amy's disappeared, Nick responds to the Nick goes on offensive, Nick’s TV appearance
Nick’s looked at as new treasure hunt clues, hires a celebrity lawyer, gets Amy home, he
a suspect & the the investigation piles up starts to actually tell the navigates her return &
characters/setting a mountain of evidence truth, begins to try & win the aftermath with
of N. Carthage, MO against him & his fake people over & repair precision while deciding
are established side is exposed his tarnished reputation both his & Amy’s fate

Share: Copyright © Lucid Project, LLC • All Rights Reserved 6

 section 2: Case Studies — Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Click HERE if you'd like to skip straight to Section 3: What To Do Next

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4

status quo reactivity proactivity Lucidity
a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a.
Setup Caution Attack Resolution

story goal Story goal face time story goal face time
seize face time
launch illumination 2.0 enlightenment apex
a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a.
Hook 1st Plot Point 1st Pinch Midpoint 2nd Pinch 2nd Plot Point Climax

1% 2% 24% 25% 26% 38% 51% 64% 75% 76% 77% 90% End

Bella faces Jacob tells Bella Bella faces the Bella sees Edward’s Bella faces danger Bella learns she Bella goes
the hunter that Edward & his dangers of loving skin sparkle in the again as she visits must flee Forks to save her
moving family may be cold someone thirsting sun & witnesses his the Cullens house when the Vampire mother &
forward ones (Vampires), her blood when true power which & meets Edward’s James decides he faces James
to kill this launches her to Edward confirms prompts their love to family of blood will hunt & feast who horribly
her explore/pursue him he’s a Vampire strengthen & solidify drinking Vampires upon her blood injures her

Bella gets to know Bella learns the rumored Bella gives everything to Bella runs from the
Forks, WA along w/ history of Vampires in her new relationship with hunter, James, & tries
her father again, Forks, WA is true as she Edward as she goes deep to sacrifice her life for
new classmates & reacts to her love for into the Vampire world, her mother, survives b/c
the mystery of the Edward & all the dangers completely trusts him & of Edward & she saves
Cullens family he brings into her world confesses her love to him him from loneliness at end

Share: Copyright © Lucid Project, LLC • All Rights Reserved 7

 section 2: Case Studies — The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Click HERE if you'd like to skip straight to Section 3: What To Do Next

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4

status quo reactivity proactivity Lucidity
a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a.
Setup Caution Attack Resolution

story goal Story goal face time story goal face time
seize face time
launch illumination 2.0 enlightenment apex
a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a.
Hook 1st Plot Point 1st Pinch Midpoint 2nd Pinch 2nd Plot Point Climax

1% 2% 18% 19% 20% 39% 49% 62% 72% 73% 74% 91% End

Katniss Katniss realizes Katniss enters the Rue reveals herself Katniss again faces Peeta needs meds Katniss &
awakens even Peeta wants Cornucopia, faces as an ally to Katniss the death & pain of as Claudius tells Peeta face
in a cold to win the Games all 23 tributes & when she points out the Games as she all tributes that off against
bed on so she commits to finally meets the a wasp nest, Katniss watches Rue die & whatever’s needed Cato, wolf-
day of play & engages by horror of the 74th will use it to attack shoots a tribute most will be waiting like mutants
reaping kissing his cheek Hunger Games the Career tributes (her 1st official kill) at the Cornucopia & The Capitol

Katniss, her sister Katniss reacts to her new Katniss goes aggressive After Peeta is healed,
(Primrose), Peeta & surroundings & impending when she partners with Katniss & he finish the
all characters are death as she learns Game Rue to take down the Games by defeating the
set up along with strategy & then responds Career tributes & unites remaining tributes, wolf-
places like District to actually participating in with Peeta while believing like mutants & eventually
12 & The Capitol The 74th Hunger Games they can both actually win outsmart The Capitol

Share: Copyright © Lucid Project, LLC • All Rights Reserved 8

 section 2: Case Studies — Killing Floor by Lee Child

Click HERE if you'd like to skip straight to Section 3: What To Do Next

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4

status quo reactivity proactivity Lucidity
a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a.
Setup Caution Attack Resolution

story goal Story goal face time story goal face time
seize face time
launch illumination 2.0 enlightenment apex
a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a.
Hook 1st Plot Point 1st Pinch Midpoint 2nd Pinch 2nd Plot Point Climax

1% 2% 25% 26% 27% 37% 48% 68% 76% 77% 78% 93% End

Reacher commits Reacher meets Reacher uncovers Reacher & Teale Reacher realizes Reacher
Reacher’s
to stay in town & Mayor Grover Hubble's not clean, meet again, Teale his dead brother meets Teale
arrested
solve the murders Teale face to face he’s a full-time crook threatens to have told him where to in a gunfight
in a local
when he learns & he encourages & he’s central to the him arrested but find the final clue, where four
diner for
the second victim Reacher to leave multi-billion dollar Reacher warns he’ll in the A/C boxes hostages
murder
was his brother town & stay away counterfeiting scam kick Teale’s butt at Stoller’s garage must be saved

Reacher wants to Reacher follows clues Reacher neutralizes the Reacher & Finley now
leave Margrave, his brother left behind, people trying to kill him, know all the players
GA but must prove discovers key info & teams up with Rosco & & must takedown the
his innocence new deaths in town while Finley to pursue all leads money operation &
in a homicide learning to trust Officer & uncover what’s really rescue Rosco, Hubble’s
investigation Rosco & Detective Finley happening in Margrave wife & two kids

Share: Copyright © Lucid Project, LLC • All Rights Reserved 9

 section 2: Case Studies — Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz

Click HERE if you'd like to skip straight to Section 3: What To Do Next

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4

status quo reactivity proactivity Lucidity
a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a.
Setup Caution Attack Resolution

story goal Story goal face time story goal face time
seize face time
launch illumination 2.0 enlightenment apex
a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a.
Hook 1st Plot Point 1st Pinch Midpoint 2nd Pinch 2nd Plot Point Climax

1% 2% 23% 24% 25% 36% 49% 60% 79% 80% 81% 92% End

Odd’s life Odd learns the Fungus Man finds Odd reveals he was Odd faces Fungus Odd realizes as Odd faces
is unusual, Fungus Man has & pursues Odd & the worst kind of fool Man again but he’s he’s talking to his and stops
seeing plans to commit Stormy at St. Bart’s on the night of Aug. dead, meaning his dad what must the killers
dead mass murder on church where the 15th & it forever ghost was at the be done to finish at the mall
people August 15th, Odd Fungus Man ends changed him, leaving church & there’s it all, he must go but not before
& such must stop him up vandalizing it wounds & suffering more than one killer see his mother deaths occur

Odd Thomas, Stormy, Odd responds to the news Odd aggressively pursues Odd uses the gun he
Chief Porter, Fungus that the Fungus Man is the identity of the 2nd killer got from his mother to
Man & bodachs are planning to commit mass after Chief Porter is shot & stop the killers, disarms
introduced along murder by roaming Pico Stormy becomes overly a bomb, gets shot and
with the city of Mundo in search of clues concerned, propelling Odd deals with the horrific
Pico Mundo. and how to stop them to step up his game repercussions & death

Share: Copyright © Lucid Project, LLC • All Rights Reserved 10

 section 2: Case Studies — Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Click HERE if you'd like to skip straight to Section 3: What To Do Next

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4

status quo reactivity proactivity Lucidity
a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a.
Setup Caution Attack Resolution

story goal Story goal face time story goal face time
seize face time
launch illumination 2.0 enlightenment apex
a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a.
Hook 1st Plot Point 1st Pinch Midpoint 2nd Pinch 2nd Plot Point Climax

1% 2% 24% 25% 26% 37% 49% 63% 72% 73% 74% 86% End

August, a Auggie’s destroyed Via makes Auggie Jack realizes it was Classmates expand After the family dog Auggie &
10 yr. old when his best class- face how his class- Auggie who wore the their discrimination (Daisy) dies, Auggie Jack face
boy, has mate(Jack) secretly mates demeaned Bleeding Scream on toward Auggie when witnesses his Dad off against
a face ridicules him, Aug. him, Auggie makes Halloween & Auggie they scorn & outcast “whisper-crying” & the scariest
like no must survive school Via face her own heard everything he Jack for remaining puts himself to bed bullies yet,
other yr. & discrimination issues w/ Miranda said about Aug’s face friends with Auggie for first time ever 7th graders

Auggie’s life/family is Auggie’s sister, Via, gives Jack begins making things Auggie steps up: Goes
introduced along with her perspective living in right with Auggie, Justin on first ever sleepover,
the social challenges his shadow, Summer’s & (Via’s boyfriend) gives his sticks up for himself,
his face brings as Jack’s point of views are perspective & Aug. begins becomes accepted at
he attends school shared as they discover to accept his situation: school, earns a medal &
for the first time Auggie’s a great person plague, hearing aids & all illuminates with Wonder

Share: Copyright © Lucid Project, LLC • All Rights Reserved 11

 section 2: Case Studies — The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Click HERE if you'd like to skip straight to Section 3: What To Do Next

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4

status quo reactivity proactivity Lucidity
a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a.
Setup Caution Attack Resolution

story goal Story goal face time story goal face time
seize face time
launch illumination 2.0 enlightenment apex
a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a. a.k.a.
Hook 1st Plot Point 1st Pinch Midpoint 2nd Pinch 2nd Plot Point Climax

1% 2% 25% 26% 27% 37% 49% 66% 75% 76% 77% 90% End

Thomas Thomas commits Thomas faces 4 Thomas learns from Maze doors do not Thomas realizes Gladers face
awakes in to his desire to Grievers in the Teresa(telepathically) shut at sundown, he must get bit by 12+ Grievers
darkness, become a Runner Maze, witnessing that no more kids are Grievers enter the a Griever to regain in Maze so
knowing so he can find a their monstrous coming, it will all end Glade, Thomas & his memories & Thomas can
only his way to escape slug-like bodies soon and the Maze all characters face crack the code to drop down the
name the Maze for the 1st time is all their fault Grievers this time escape the Maze Griever Hole

Thomas gets to know Thomas breaks the #1 Thomas promises Chuck Thomas awakens from
the people, rules & rule helping 2 Runners, that he will get him home Changing w/ memories,
environment of the instinctively survives a to his parents, propelling convinces everyone the
Glade & he learns night in the Maze, serves Thomas to crack the Maze is a trial & leads
the Maze’s life or jail time & regroups to puzzle of the Maze so them to escape through
death stakes learn how to be a Runner they can all escape the Griever Hole

Share: Copyright © Lucid Project, LLC • All Rights Reserved 12

 section 3: What to do next

1. Validate Plot structure. Grab your favorite novel or watch a fun flick, do
the math, and check to see if its plot milestones fall near the appropriate
percentage markers.

2. Write. You need to practice the craft, but create with Plot structure in

mind because its proven framework can help you give readers the

pivotal moments they’re expecting in a story.

3. Do you know any friends who you think could benefit from this Blueprint?

If so, please share this visual guide using the below buttons because you
might be helping them create the story they’ve always wanted to write.

Share: Copyright © Lucid Project, LLC • All Rights Reserved 13

 section 4: Thanks to the greats

This visual guide exists because of the master storytellers who

served as my virtual mentors, so I’d like to thank them.
First, thanks to Syd Field for Screenplay. You introduced me to plot structure in 2001.

Thanks to Larry Brooks for Story Engineering. You reintroduced me to plot structure,
opened my eyes again, and inspired my first visual guide in 2011.

Thanks to James Scott Bell for Plot & Structure. You exposed the big lie,

and propelled me to keep writing.

And thanks to every writer who shares their words with the world.

You showcase how stories and the craft can impact lives.

Thank you,

David Villalva
Lucid Storyteller

Share: Copyright © Lucid Project, LLC • All Rights Reserved 14