How can you use a three-act structure to write a short story? I often lose my brain during the plotting stage of my short stories. I’m left stuck, scratching my head and wondering where my characters go next. But I have one technique that helps me bust out of that rut. Turning to a good plot framework like the three-act structure can help you build a great short story plot.

The three-act structure is the classic story structure that provides the basis of so many plays, movies, books, and more. Most stories can be broken down, and you can see how they fit a common plot map. Not every good story has a three-act structure, but it’s a great, familiar way to construct your story.

What Is a Three-Act Structure?

The easiest way to plot out your story: find your beginning, middle, and end. This technique is a three-act structure. This is the most common story structure for play, movies, and so much more. It’s so common because it’s a great way to guide your story, but it’s so broad that it doesn’t really restrict it.

Ask yourself. Where does your story start? Where will your story finish? What happens in between those two points?

But! The three-act structure actually has a little more than that. So you can do even more with this technique to flesh out your short story. There are four important elements to the three-act structure your short story needs: an introduction, a midpoint, a climax, and rising tension.

It Starts With Introductions…

The introduction to your short story should introduce readers to your characters, your setting, and the story’s conflict. This also where you really have to hook readers into continuing your story.

Then You Reach the Midpoint

The midpoint usually represents a turning point in the character’s fortunes that occurs late on the second act. Sometimes it’s when the heroes think all has been lost but then get a glimmer of hope. Sometimes it’s a moment when things are going great but then everything falls apart. It’s often where the odds of success look smallest, so the protagonist can turn things around in the climax.

When Han Solo gets frozen in carbonite and the rebels seem like they’re doomed, that’s the midpoint of the first Star Wars trilogy. But then, the good guys escape and get to fight the Empire again. The midpoint is where hope seems lost and fortune gets flipped around.

You’ll Need Rising Tension

Now, let’s talk about rising tension. The three-act structure is based around things getting tenser as the story progresses. The tension can drop for a little bit, but it has to keep going upwards in general.

In the introduction, the conflict meets the characters. As the first act goes on, the characters get further involved and the stakes get higher. As the second act goes on, the stakes get even higher and higher.

By the midpoint, the heroes cannot walk away without life-changing consequences of one type or another. The tension is really high. When the tension reaches its highest point, where everything is on the line for the protagonists, that’s the climax.

And It Ends With a Climax

The climax is really the crux of your story. This is where everyone’s fates are decided and the most important decisions are made. This is where the biggest battles are won, the greatest losses are taken, the bad guys get defeated, or day is lost.

This is where your protagonist makes the choices that decide whether their ending is a happy or unhappy one. It’s the tensest spot of your story.

Usually after the climax, tension drops, and the denouement starts. The denouement is basically the wrap-up. The happily ever after, the epilogue, all the things describing what happened to the characters after the climax—these form the denouement.

Not all stories have denouements. Have you ever watched a movie where the screen cuts to black right after the baddies are beaten? And since short stories are so short, a denouement isn’t always necessary.

How Can I Use a Three-act Structure for Writing Short Stories?

Your short story doesn’t need to resemble a hero’s journey plot or any movies to use a three-act structure. You can still develop a stronger short story by using the three-act structure as a guide.

I often write unconventional stories about protagonists who are no heroes, about situations that aren’t life or death, with endings that aren’t very happy, and with arcs that don’t quite match this mold. There have been tragedies and slice-of-life stories. But comparing my plot points to a three-act structure helps me build my story.

Begin Your First Act

Take your story ideas. Take those little nuggets of characters, those thoughts on a couple scenes, and dream you have for your story. It’s time to flesh them out.

Start planning your short story by developing your characters, setting, and conflict. These are must-haves. I use resources like character worksheets and planning pages to help. Think up a scene or a couple of scenes that introduce these elements to the reader. There’s your first act.

Build Your Second Act

Ask yourself, how does my main character get in deeper trouble? How do their problems get worse? And when do their problems look as bad as they could possibly get? Decide what actions your protagonist will take that land them in awful situations. There is your midpoint and your second act.

Finish Your Third Act

Now for the third act. Tension needs to be high, having risen during the prior acts. Remember, your story doesn’t need to be high stakes. It could be about anything from the end of the world to a child hunting for their lost dog. It’s okay for the tension to be relative to the story. Maybe the child is just really, really worried they’ll never see their dog again. The appropriate level of tension keeps the reader engaged.

Photo by bruce mars from Pexels

At the climax of your short story, it’s time for the big decisions and consequences to happen. Your protagonist needs to confront the conflict and make choices that reflect their character. Here, the day is either saved or lost. The heroes make the right choices and defeat evil, or they choose the wrong path and let evil prevail. The child either joyously reunites with their dog or sullenly surrenders their pet.

After that, you can choose to write a denouement for your short story. Where are the characters headed? You can hint at what the future has in store for them (or state it directly). You can give readers a little glimpse of happiness to make up for all the hardships the characters have gone through.

Write Your Short Story Easily With Your Three-Act Outline

Boom! By filling in the blanks, you’ve built a story framework that will give you a strong short story. Just add the actual words, some great prose, to your story, and you’ve got a tale that will knock readers’ socks off.

If you use this technique, you’ll have a great outline for your narrative. Use this framework as you write to guide yourself. (But don’t let it constrict you! It’s okay to depart from your outline). With a story planned out, getting the words on paper will be much easier.

Bonus Tips for How to Use a Three-Act Structure to Write Short Stories

Short stories are, well, short. You may not have time to include all the elements a traditional three-act story does. Maybe you want to start your story in media res and skip the traditional setup of the first act. Maybe your story speeds from start to climax with almost nothing in between. That’s okay—short stories can still break the mold and be awesome. And using some of the elements of a three-act story can still help you build a better story.

Also, three acts might only be three scenes. That’s actually how I’ve written some of my short stories. An introduction scene sets up my story. The second act and scene add higher stakes and more complications. Finally, I can dedicate my third act and scene to the climax and a quick denouement. This makes for a solidly-built, engaging short story.

I’ve even written stories that cram all these elements into one scene with a lot of twists and turns. It’s possible!

Finally, you also don’t have to write the elements in chronological order. You can decide your climax or denouement before you start planning your first act or second acts. Plot out your story in the order that makes sense for you, not the given one.

The three-act structure is a great tool for any short story writer to keep in their toolbox. Do you think you might use a three-act structure to write your next short story? Or maybe you have a different plan for your story? Let me know in the comments!

Mint Miller

Mint is a writer and digital marketing pro who lives in coastal Virginia with her family and one lovable pitbull. Her passions include helping people and businesses display their best side through the power of communication, buying her dog costumes he doesn’t want to wear, and talking all day about Batman.