on Writers Helping Writers:

Every successful story, no matter the genre or format, has some structure at its core. It’s the backbone that provides shape and purpose. Without it, even the most compelling ideas can lose focus and wander off track, making it harder for readers to engage.

Whether you’re a dedicated plotter or a discovery writer who prefers to see where the story goes, structure still plays a role. You don’t have to outline every scene and know everything that will happen; just figuring out the key turning points can help you shape a satisfying beginning, middle, and end (and avoid the dreaded saggy middle).

There are many proven structure systems out there, and each offers a slightly different lens to help writers frame their stories. Here are five widely used and respected models.