Why bother with Plot Outlines?
So, what good does it do the writer to know about these typical outlines or about dividing stories into acts? Give you a General Structure, a Backbone or Skeleton. It helps because on this abstract level, it’s easy to stick to tried and true story lines – oh, not strictly, never strictly. But it helps to know that in the beginning of a story, Act 1, the main character is usually introduced quite early, as is the main conflict in the story. There’s a climax and resolution in Act 3. Duh, you say. Well, yeah. That’s because you’ve already internalized these as typical things that happen at these points of the story. In the same way, you can learn what typically happens at different points depending on the story you want to tell. This is especially important in the middle of the story, so you can avoid the dreaded Sagging Middle. In other words, there are some plot templates which, on the abstract outline level, are helpful to look at. It also means you need to sharpen your skills in movin
