The Frameworks

Seven shapes a story can take, from Campbell's hero's journey to Kishōtenketsu, which builds meaning through juxtaposition rather than conflict. Every stage is annotated with what it does psychologically. Your dreams use these shapes too.

The Monomyth (Hero's Journey)Joseph Campbell · 1949 · 17 stagesThe universal mythological pattern Campbell identified across world cultures: departure from the known world, initiation through trials, and return transformed.The Writer's JourneyChristopher Vogler · 1992 · 12 stagesVogler distilled Campbell's 17 stages into 12, specifically for screenwriters.The Story CircleDan Harmon · 2009 · 8 stagesHarmon distilled the Hero's Journey into 8 steps arranged in a circle.Freytag's Dramatic ArcGustav Freytag · 1863 · 5 stagesThe classical five-part dramatic structure derived from Greek and Shakespearean drama.KishōtenketsuTraditional (Chinese/Japanese/Korean) · Ancient · 4 stagesA four-act narrative structure that does not require conflict as its engine.The Seven Basic PlotsChristopher Booker · 2004 · 7 plot shapesBooker argued that all stories reduce to seven archetypal plot patterns, each reflecting a fundamental psychological journey.Save the Cat! Beat SheetBlake Snyder · 2005 · 15 beatsFifteen structural beats for commercial screenwriting.