Why the 3 Act Structure is Brandon Sanderon's recommended framework for outlining plot

Brando Sando 2025 Lecture Series: Plot Structure

Have you ever wondered why some stories feel deeply satisfying while others fall flat?

For busy professionals trying to write their first novel, understanding story structure can feel overwhelming. Here's the good news: Brandon Sanderson's favorite plot structure, the 3 Act Structure, offers a flexible framework that can help you craft compelling stories. Even if you're writing in 10-minute chunks during lunch breaks.

In this article you will learn about the most important plot beats of the 3 Act structure for the first 50% of your novel.

Don't be too slavish to your framework.

Before we dive into the framework, I will reiterate, you are a chef, not a cook.

Your goal is to combine elements according to your tastes and following the needs of your story. If you follow a framework too closely, you'll get elements that feel out of place.

Brandon uses the example of the movie Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. A movie near and dear to my heart. My brothers and I watched this movie ad nauseam dozens of times on VHS when I was growing up. I've enjoyed seeing it memed to infinity on r/prequelmemes where it's taken on a second life.

At the end of the movie (spoilers incoming) we learn that Luke Skywalker is a virgin birth of the force. George Lucas was following the Hero's Journey formula exactly, where the hero is born of a god. But in that movie it comes off as bizarre and confusing.

Frameworks are there to help you. It's OK to lean on them when writing your first novel, because you haven't been following along so far, your goal for your first novel should be to just get it done.

What is the 3 Act Structure?

The 3 Act Structure is a template for writing stories popularized by screenwriters.

Brandon recommends in his lecture the most popular book on the topic, Save the Cat! It's basically a distillation of the western storytelling tradition broken down into foundational story beats. These beats when combined are what make a story satisfying.

For writers, the 3 Act structure is a useful tool for troubleshooting when a story isn't quite working. Below I will highlight the beats Brandon talked about in his lecture.

The heading name includes how Brandon referred to the story beat followed by the name of the beat from Save The Cat in parenthesis. The focus here is on the first half of the novel.

The beats of the second half are more widely known and easily identified:

• The All Hope is Lost Beat

• The Dark Night of the Soul Beat

• The Finale

The dramatic question (The Theme Stated)

Compelling characters are the main reason readers keep reading.

When we read a story we are experiencing it through the POV of character. A conflict will only seem like a conflict if the characters view it as such. This beat introduces the character arc including: character's status quo, need, want, and why they can't have it. Much of the momentum of your story will play on conflict surrounding your dramatic question.

Keep in mind, it is something you can figure out as you write and fix later in revision.

The inciting incident (The Catalyst)

The inciting incident is what sets everything into motion, destroying the status quo.

Your story is a set of dominoes you've carefully set up and the catalyst is what starts knocking them down. All the conflict from the story follows as a natural progression (or escalation) of the inciting incident.

If you're like me and nothing seems to happen in your stories, this is where you might be going wrong. Stories are not realistic. Stories are filled with coincidence, everything is already in motion, waiting for the main character to show up.

Another aspect of the catalyst is it forces the main character out of their status quo. Ideally, it fits nicely with the character's arc, in terms of goals, fears, and needs.

Allow your characters to fail (Fun & Games)

It's only satisfying to see a character succeed if you see them fail first.

Here you want to show your character working towards their external want but coming short. Either because they don't have the skills, magic item, or the people they need to succeed. Readers have expectations for solutions the main character could try. Show off your cleverness as a writer by addressing these expectations and explaining why they don't work.

The goal is to build tension towards your finale, what Brandon calls the stand up and cheer moment. When we become attached to a character we want to see them win. But if it's too easy for the character the payoff won't feel earned.

The key to softening the blow of failure is allowing the character to make progress on a separate plot thread. Brandon talks about the try/fail framework. Every plot beat is either a "yes, and" or a "no, but." Meaning, if a character succeeds there is a complication. When a character fails there is some additional info to bring the character closer.

Don't be afraid to put your characters in difficult situations. Otherwise, there won’t be tension. The culmination of this sequence results in the Midpoint Twist.

The Midpoint Twist

This is the big twist that cranks up the stakes for your main character.

It doesn't need to be a surprising twist. In fact, you can clearly signpost it and do exactly what you say you'll do. The goal is to make a twist which causes the main character and audience to completely reevaluate everything that's happened. A midpoint twist will change the whole feel of the story.

Figuring out your midpoint twist early can help you with the structure of your story. As I've written about in previous entries, outlining backwards from your climactic moment is a useful way to make sure your story is building to satisfying moments.

The type of twist will depend heavily on the kind of story you're writing so don't be afraid to experiment.