Applying 7-point Story Structure to a Series?

[OldRodKS]

Hello, everyone, I'm new here

I've written a couple of NaNoWriMo novels, but nothing that's worth publishing (yet). I'm currently working on plotting out a 3-book fantasy story and I am in need of some advice.

I've been studying Dan Well's Seven-Point Story Structure, and I can wrap my head around that in a single-novel setting, but when I start to apply it to a 3-book story, with more than one main character, I'm having some problems.

Does anyone know of a good example I could look at where someone has applied this structure to a multi-book series with multiple main characters?

Thanks

 

[WooHooMan]

I use Star Wars as my example for every narrative convention (especially when it comes to trilogies) so I'll try to apply it here...
- A NEW HOPE -
1. Hook: where the character starts off
- Luke: farm boy nobody
- Han: selfish smuggler
- Leia: captured rebel leader
- Vader: evil cartoon-y villain.

2. Plot turn 1: arc is set into motion
- Luke: meets Obi-Wan/trains to be a jedi and joins rebellion/destroys Death Star
- Han: friendship with Luke and Leia is established
- Leia: rescued from Death Star, goes to lead rebellion
- Vader: kills Obi-Wan and becomes aware of Luke

- EMPIRE STRIKES BACK -
3. Pinch 1: first major loss/tension is built, character gets direction on what to do next
- Luke: has a vision that tells him to train with Yoda
- Han: is on the run from Empire
- Leia: on the run with Han
- Vader: is tasked with finding Luke

4. Mid Point
- Luke: trains with Yoda before heading to Cloud City
- Han: romance with Leia and goes to Cloud City
- Leia: romance with Han and goes to Cloud City
- Vader: tracks Han and Leia to Cloud City, prepares to meet with Luke

5. Pinch 2: character suffers most critical lost, must go from passive to proactive
- Luke: loses fight to Vader
- Han: frozen in carbonite
- Leia: loses Han
- Vader: Luke doesn't join him

- RETURN OF THE JEDI -
6. Plot turn 2: characters take action to get what they want
- Luke: must confront Vader to become a Jedi
- Han: conflict with Jabba is resolved
- Leia: helps rescuing Han
- Vader: meets with emperor to prepare for showdown with Luke

7. Resolution
- Luke and Vader: Luke redeems Vader and establishes himself as a Jedi in the process
- Han and Leia: get together, rebellion defeats empire

So, how's that?

 

[Michael K. Eidson]

Good question, and I hope someone has a non-movie example. Most of the multi-book series I can think of used structure within each book of the series, leaving something open-ended at the end of each book enough to continue the story in the sequel. I've read comments by some readers who vehemently don't wish to read a series of books where each book does not have its own satisfying conclusion, even if there is some overarching plot left unfinished. So not only are you looking at having a story structure with a plot that spans three books, you're looking for a plot with sub-plots, one per book, that also adhere to story structure.

 

[Heliotrope]

Terry Goodkind used the Star Wars style Structure in his Sword of Truth Series. Each book finished in a conclusive way, where you felt it had a satisfying conclusion to that plot, but there was still a larger, over arching series plot. The series is not for everyone. There is a lot of criticism about it. But from a plotting perspective it was perfection. I'm a big time plotter and love concise little packages like that.

 

[OldRodKS]

Thanks WooHooMan.

I was thinking more of an arc for each book, along with an overall arc for the series, but that makes sense the way you did it.

 

[Svrtnsse]

I'm thinking that if you're planning a three book series, it'd make more sense to apply a three act structure to the series as a whole, and then the seven point structure to the individual parts.