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Seven-point story

Dan Wells's compact framework. Seven beats, designed to be plotted backwards from the resolution so every earlier beat earns its weight.

The beats

  1. Hook, the protagonist's starting state. Mirror image of the Resolution.
  2. Plot Turn 1, inciting event; story begins.
  3. Pinch 1, first major pressure; antagonist applies force.
  4. Midpoint, protagonist shifts from reactive to proactive.
  5. Pinch 2, second major pressure; all hope feels lost.
  6. Plot Turn 2, protagonist gets the last piece they need.
  7. Resolution, final confrontation; the protagonist applies what they've learned.

How to use it

Wells recommends plotting in this order: Resolution → Hook → Midpoint → Plot Turns → Pinches. The Hook and Resolution mirror each other (the protagonist's starting flaw is what the Resolution heals). The Midpoint is the inflection between reactive and proactive. The Plot Turns book-end Act II, and the Pinches sit at the 1/3 and 2/3 marks.

Strengths

Compact. Seven beats fit on an index card. Forces the writer to know the ending before drafting, which is exactly what drift-prone projects need. Excellent for short stories, novelettes, and tight thrillers.

Weaknesses

Sparse. A 100k-word epic with seven beats may feel structurally thin. Layer it on top of a longer framework (Hero's Journey, Save the Cat) for sagas.