Any medium · 8 beats
Best for: any first draft when you don't yet know what shape your story is. The classic setup / confrontation / resolution. Flexible enough for any medium; light enough to adapt.
Percentages show roughly where each beat lands in the finished story — the midpoint of a 110-page screenplay is page 55.
Establish the protagonist, their ordinary world, and what they want. Plant the thematic question.
The event that disrupts the protagonist's world and kicks the story into motion.
End of Act I. The protagonist commits to the journey; there's no going back.
Obstacles escalate. The protagonist learns, adapts, and collects allies and enemies.
A reversal or revelation. Stakes escalate; the protagonist shifts from reactive to proactive.
End of Act II. The protagonist hits their lowest point. What they want seems impossible.
The protagonist makes their final attempt. External and internal conflicts collide.
Show the new equilibrium. Answer the thematic question. Reveal how the protagonist has changed.
Three-Act Structure is built into One More Draft — pick it in the story wizard and every beat above becomes a slot in your outline, with Quill, your story editor, coaching each one. Free to start.
Start a story with Three-Act Structure
