Story Structure 101

Send us Fan MailStory structure is one issue fiction editors love to disagree about. At one end of the spectrum, some promote rigid templates, while others say "anything goes."In this episode, I cover ...the problem with rigid approaches to story structurewhy I dislike Save the Cat! and the Hero's Journeywhy you should think about story structure but not get hung up about itEnjoy!Links from today's ep!Hustle culture versus the Literary Academy: https://www.thenarrativecraft.com/post/two-cultures-in-publishing-hustle-culture-vs-the-literary-academyHow universal is the Save the Cat beat sheet?: https://www.thenarrativecraft.com/post/the-save-the-cat-beat-sheet-a-cultural-anthropological-approachClub Ed course – Plot and Story Structure: https://www.clubedfreelancers.com/product/editing-for-plot-and-story-structure-sep-8-oct-5-2025/Romancing the Beat: https://www.campfirewriting.com/learn/romancing-the-beatThe Hero's Journey: https://www.jcf.org/learn/joseph-campbell-heros-journeyThe Heroine's Journey: https://gailcarriger.com/books/hj/Support the showQueer-owned business. AI-free editing and consulting. Conscious language advocate.Contact me on: [email protected] 🌈Second World Editorial: Speculative fiction editing and writing: https://www.secondworldeditorial.com🎓The Narrative Craft: Cultural anthropology developmental editing and consultancy: https://www.thenarrativecraft.com/💎Need a transcript? Here you go: https://thefreelancer.buzzsprout.com/🥰 Fiction newsletter: https://thenarrativecraft.kit.com/e8debf1dd5