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13 February 2026

Posted by Susan L. Edser

Story Structure

In the third session of the six-week pilot, we continued our progression of writing genres, from memoir to autofiction to fiction. Learning how to structure a fictional story provides a writer with stepping stones during the planning stages. We explored this through a group interactive exercise, helping a stranded person reach one side of a deserted island to the other. We gave them a name (Scarlett) and a backstory (she was going on holiday and had left a dog whom she loved). The inciting incident was a plane crash, and we decided how she overcame the challenges she faced, such as encountering unknown animals in the woods, navigating a mountain range, and crossing a river filled with crocodiles. She, of course, reached safety on the far side of the island and returned home as a changed person. 

We discussed stories we know and how they follow the same pattern, whether explicitly (e.g. Dan Brown’s books) or more subtly (e.g. A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara). I shared diagrams of the classic Three-Act Structure and expanded on its key features. A handout offered alternatives, including Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey, Dan Harmon’s Story Circle, and Blake Snyder’s ‘Save the Cat’ Beat Sheet. As neurodivergent writers, these linear structures may not work for us, so we discussed which ones might be more useful, such as character-driven narratives or the dinosaur-digging method. The group shared how they write: some are planners, while others are pantsers; one likes to start at the end of a story, and another needs structure from start to finish. I also encouraged everyone to lean into their neurodivergent strengths and consider how words are structured on the page, and I shared examples of what this might look like.

I invited the group to put this learning into practice by drafting a story idea using one of the structures we discussed, and then to use the jigsaw approach by writing one scene from any part of the story. Three people read out their work, and all received applause and encouragement. 

We ended by discussing how to maintain a writing practice between sessions. This included sticking to a regular writing time, being part of a group, or simply being kind to ourselves and recognising that we are doing enough. I shared a podcast (click here for the link) that was helpful for considering the myth of ‘finding time to write’ and offered ways to make the most of the time we do have.

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