The Three-Act Story Spine

Aristotle Meets Pixar

I leveraged AI to combine the three-act structure used for narrative fiction with The Story Spine structure. The three-act structure goes back to Aristotle. The Story Spine was originally created by actor and playwright Kenn Adams in 1991. The Story Spine structure saw a rise in popularity when Pixar artist Emma Costs tweeted about it back in 2012. Fast forward to the end of 2023 and AI gives us the best of both worlds. Or did it? Let me know what you think of the combination in the comments.

Act 1: Setup

Once Upon a Time: Establish the world and characters. Set the stage for your story by introducing the main characters, their world, and the status quo.

Every Day: Describe the protagonist’s regular life before the main story begins. This is where we see what’s missing or unfulfilled in their life.

But One Day: The inciting incident. Something happens that disrupts the protagonist’s normal life, presenting them with a challenge, question, or problem that cannot be ignored.

Act 2: Confrontation

Because of That: Rising action and reactions. Show how the protagonist responds to the inciting incident. This typically involves a series of events and challenges that complicate the protagonist’s situation.

Because of That: Development and escalation. The protagonist faces more obstacles, often escalating in difficulty. This could include deeper emotional, physical, or moral challenges.

Until Finally: The climax of the story. This is the turning point where the protagonist must confront the main conflict head-on, often leading to a peak in tension and drama.

Act 3: Resolution

And Ever Since Then: The resolution. Show the aftermath of the climax. How has the protagonist changed? How is their world different now?

The Moral: If your story has a moral or a lesson, state it here. This is not always necessary, but it can add depth to the story and leave the audience with something to ponder.