Use a Story Structure Chart to Spot Problems

I created a story structure chart using scene intensity to spot potential problems.

Track the Intensity Using a Story Structure Chart

For the scenes in my novel, I used a simple spreadsheet to assign an “intensity value” (e.g., -5 to +5) and create a story structure chart.

It’s simple, really.

• Assign an intensity value based on a scene’s actions, conflicts, tension, and suspense.
• Identify how the genre’s conventions and key scenes establish readers’ expectations and use that knowledge to change intensity values.
• Mix these variables to shape the trajectory of the story structure chart.

For example:

Spot Issues Like the “Muddle of the Middle”

When reading bores me, I stop.

• As an author, I cringe thinking about DNFs (i.e., the reader “did not finish” the book), yet I don’t finish every novel I start. (Note: From my view, that improves mood, saves time, and allows readers to move on to the next book!)
• In fact, it’s rare to find someone who finishes every book.
• I can’t expect my target audience to keep reading if I don’t entertain, inform, and inspire the readers throughout the entire book.

Yup, me too!

How to Create a Story Structure Chart

Story Elements that Affect a Story Structure Chart

Base your intensity value for each scene on how the probable perception of readers.

For example:

• The action, conflict, tension, and suspense that take place in the story causes the intensity to increase.
• Key scenes, such as the murder in a crime drama, often maximize readers’ perceived intensity.
• In contrast, the description of the detective’s search for clues may cause intensity value to decrease.

This overview shows several factors that can increase a scene’s intensity.

Keep the Spreadsheet Super Simple

After building hundreds of Excel and Numbers spreadsheet over several decades, I learned to keep it super simple (i.e., KISS).

Note: FB is my shorthand for Flashback; 🔑 is for a key scene, ⚙️ for a convention, MO = Main Plot, and S1-S4 = Subplots. All of this is kept tidy within Scrivener’s Custom Metadata..

Story Structure Chart Spreadsheet Tips

Often you can achieve similar, if not the same, results using different methods. At a minimum, you’ll need several columns for each line of the spreadsheet. For example:

• Scene Number
• Story Beats Name (Note: Show once at the beginning of the applicable scene.)
• Scene Name
• Scene Influences (Note: Key scenes and conventions influence intensity.)
• Scene Intensity Value (i.e., -5, -4, -3, -2, -1, 0, +1, +2, +3, +4, or +5)*

*Note: If you prefer, use a scale of -10 to +10.

The chart is based on the data found in a handful of columns.

• X-axis Values: Scene Numbers
• X-axis Labels: Story Beats Name
• Y-axis Values: Scene Intensity Values
• Y-axis Labels: Scene Numbers (e.g., increments of twenty)

This chart will give you the basic story structure chart, and based on the features available within Google, Excel, or Numbers spreadsheets, you can fancy up the output with more details (e.g., titles and labels).

Additional Story Structure Chart Suggestions

I’m keeping this as brief as possible so we don’t get lost in the many what-if questions and spreadsheet tricks.

As you can see from the chart above, the “muddle of the middle” in my story lags compared to the benchmark line. I can increase the scene intensity by layering in more action, conflict, tension, and suspense. Authors control whether to make those changes.

Given the slump in my novel takes place after the MIDPOINT, I’m going to focus on that area using the Trellis Method’s prompt-based worksheets.

For example:

Act 2B

• ACTION: In this sequence of scenes, the chief protagonist takes action based on the discovered truth, changing the lead character’s trajectory either up or down.
  • How will you show the lead character’s ACTION trajectory is the reverse of the PREMISE?
  • How will the lead character’s quest become tougher?
  • How will you show the lead character inundated by external forces and internal issues?
  • What’s the awful truth the lead character can’t admit that perpetuates internal issues?
  • What will strip away the lead character’s comfort zone one layer at a time?
  • What adds to the lead character’s struggle with the need to change?
• POWER PLAY 2: This scene (for the Main Plot and each Subplot) hints at what is coming when the chief protagonist PLUNGES INTO 3, emphasizing the ever-increasing stakes.
  • How does the scene remind readers and lead character what’s at stake?
  • What will make clear this scene is another turning point in favor of the antagonist?
  • How does this scene force the lead character to either fight or run?
  • In what way does the lead character still show a reliance on the lie that perpetuates the flaw and prevents the chief protagonist from solving the story’s problem?
  • What will reinforce the lead character’s resolve to do whatever it takes?
  • What new information will the lead character uncover?
  • How does the scene hint at what is coming?

The story structure chart spotlighted where there were issues and my answers to these questions will help me solve the muddle-of-the-middle problem by increasing the action, conflict, tension, and suspense.

Note: In the story structure chart above, the intensity values rose dramatically in the BATTLE 1 sequence of scenes, and that’s why it’s not considered part of Act 2B’s the muddle-of-the-middle problem.

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