The Three Act Structure is the concept that each story can be broken into three main parts: Act I, Act II, and Act III. In Act I, we see the characters in their normal lives. Act II is when something changes their status quo and they run into problem after problem. Then in Act III, the characters have to face their problems and either overcome or succumb to them. A good way to think of it is this: Act I, you chase your character up a tree; Act II, you throw rocks at him; Act III, you get him down.
Some people have a negative view of the Three Act Structure, but that doesn’t void the fact that each story follows it. Regardless of whether you set out to write three acts or just a good story, these components will be in any book, and it’s good to have an idea of what that means.
Please note that each act composes an average percentage of the story which I am indicating below. This is not set in stone, but it’s best to keep close to it. Some people write Act I and Act III as 25% and Act II as 50%. Others have Act I at 20%, Act II at 60%, and Act III at 20%. Each story will vary a little, but the proportions should be similar.
Act I: 20% Of The novel
The first act is the introduction to the main character and his world. You show his shortcomings and his strengths that you plan to use later in the book. Act I comes to a close when the inciting incident, otherwise called the call to action, occurs. This is when something happens to disrupt the character’s normal life and shove him into a world of problems.
Act II: 50% Of The novel
Starting after the inciting incident, Act II consists of at least half the book. This is where writers put their character through his own personal hell and help him grow into a stronger person. He will often try to fix his problems the easy way but only make them worse. Act II ends when the character is at at his lowest possible point and is forced to make a decision. Will he face his problems the right way or give up? Normally, this is when he gets proactive instead of reactive, and the character makes a plan to solve things instead of just letting things continue to happen to him.
Act III: 30% Of The novel
The final act is the climax and resolution of the story. The character’s skills from his normal life found in Act I combine with the strengths he found in the problematic world of Act II to form a better person in Act III. The character learns to balance both worlds, and, by doing so, he is able to conquer his problems.
Final Thoughts
Unless it helps you to outline a story, you don’t have to worry about dividing your story into three acts before writing it. The Three Act Structure is just a good tool for guidance. It helps writers proportion their story correctly and fulfill readers’ expectations. If the story is dragging, there may be too much time spent in Act I. Or, if the readers aren’t feeling satisfied at the end of the story, you may need to write more in Act III to tie up the issues better. While you don’t have to actively think about writing in three acts, it’s useful when dissecting a book to make sure you have a good story.
Thanks for reading!
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