216. Story Structure: The 5 Scenes Every Story Needs (With Kristina Stanley)

Fiction Writing Made Easy | Top Creative Writing Podcast for Fiction Writers & Writing Tips

Learn the five key plot points that turn struggling manuscripts into finished novels—and exactly where they need to appear in your story structure.

Have you ever felt like your story just isn't clicking, no matter how much effort you've put into it? Maybe you've polished your prose, developed your characters, and built an intriguing world—but something still feels off.

In this episode, I sat down with Kristina Stanley—award-winning author, fiction editor, and founder of Fictionary—to uncover the structural secrets that transform good stories into unforgettable ones.

Here's what we discussed:

• [03:15] Why your beautifully written novel might feel "stuck" despite compelling characters—and the structural secret that transforms wandering manuscripts into page-turners
• [05:45] The five essential scenes that form every successful novel's backbone, including the exact percentages where they should appear in your manuscript
• [23:45] Why the midpoint is where most novels soar or lose their way—and how to create the shift that keeps readers hooked through Act Two
• [30:30] Plot Point 2's dual purpose that most writers miss: combining your darkest moment with the crucial information needed for the climax
• [34:30] How to craft climaxes that satisfy readers by answering your story's central question (not just adding exciting action scenes)

Plus, Kristina shares her "story test" for evaluating your manuscript and explains why fixing structure before polishing prose will save you months of revision time.

🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:

• Fictionary.co
• Grab Fictionary’s course, An Insider's View of Story Editing, for FREE here (a $39 value)

⭐ Follow & Review

If you loved this episode, please take a moment to follow the show and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your review will help other writers find this podcast and get the insights they need to finish their books. Thanks for tuning in to The Fiction Writing Made Easy Podcast! See you next week!

Support the show

👉 Looking for a transcript? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, scroll down below the episode player until you see the transcript.

فصول

1. Why Structure Still Matters (00:00:00)

2. Meet Christina And Fictionary (00:01:38)

3. The Five Structural Scenes Overview (00:03:47)

4. Inciting Incident Essentials (00:05:32)

5. Plot Point One And Story Goal (00:09:00)

6. Wounds, Stakes, And Genre Flavor (00:12:40)

7. Cracking The Midpoint Shift (00:15:44)

8. From Reactive To Proactive (00:20:55)

9. Plot Point Two: All Is Lost Plus Insight (00:24:28)

10. Designing A Climax That Answers The Question (00:28:05)

11. Pantsers, Focus, And Scene Purpose (00:31:10)

12. Getting Unstuck With External Pressure (00:34:05)

13. Subplots, Sequencing, And POV Choices (00:37:00)

14. The Story Test For Revisions (00:41:10)

15. Progress Over Perfection (00:45:10)