The Eight Point Story Arc

Nigel Watts’ very useful “Eight-Point Story Arc” – a fool-proof, fail-safe and time-honoured way to structure a story.

The eight points which Watts lists are, in order:

1. Stasis
2. Trigger
3. The quest
4. Surprise
5. Critical choice
6. Climax
7. Reversal
8. Resolution

– http://www.dailywritingtips.com/how-to-structure-a-story-the-eight-point-arc/