Which Writing Structure Helps the Reader?

Beyond the Basics of Plot and Pacing

When you sit down to write a story, one of the most important decisions you’ll make isn’t about characters or setting—it’s about structure. But what exactly is “structure” in writing? Simply put, structure is how you organize and present information to your reader. It’s the skeleton that supports your story and determines how readers experience your narrative from beginning to end.

Most writing advice focuses on familiar models like three-act structure or the hero’s journey, but structure is far more than just a plot template. The right structure acts as a bridge between your story and your reader’s emotions. It can transform a simple tale into an immersive experience that resonates long after the final page.

What Is Story Structure? A Clear Definition

Story structure has three essential components:

 1. Order of events: The sequence in which you present information (chronological, reverse, fragmented, etc.)

 2. Pacing: How quickly or slowly you move through different parts of the story

 3. Point of view and narrative distance: Who tells the story and how close readers feel to the events

Let’s look at how these elements work in practice with a simple scenario: a character discovering their partner has been unfaithful.

Traditional/Linear Structure

Sarah came home early from work and found Tom’s phone on the kitchen counter. When it buzzed with a text message, she glanced down and saw the words “Last night was amazing” from someone named Alex. Her stomach dropped as she pieced together all the late nights and distant behavior of the past few months.

Reverse/Revealed Outcome Structure

Sarah sat alone in the empty apartment, Tom’s belongings already removed. She looked at the kitchen counter—the same spot where, three weeks ago, she had discovered the text message that had unraveled their five-year relationship. “Last night was amazing,” it had said, from someone named Alex.

Fragmented Timeline Structure

The kitchen counter gleams, empty now. Sarah remembers Tom’s phone buzzing. A name she didn’t recognize. “Last night was amazing.” Three months earlier: Tom coming home late again, smelling of unfamiliar cologne. Two weeks later: Sarah sitting alone in their apartment, boxes packed, wondering when exactly their truth had become a lie.

Notice how each structure creates a different emotional experience for the reader, despite containing the same basic information. This is the power of structure!

How to Choose the Right Structure for Your Story

Your structure should serve your story’s purpose. Here’s a practical framework for making this decision:

Identify Your Story’s Emotional Core

Ask yourself:

What emotion do I want readers to feel most strongly?

What’s the most important realization or transformation in the story?

Match Structure to Emotional Effect

Test Your Structure

Before committing to a structure, draft a short outline or summary using it. Ask:

 ▶ Does this structure enhance the emotional impact I want?

 ▶ Is it serving the story, or am I forcing the story to serve the structure?

 ▶ Will readers be engaged or frustrated by this approach?

Five Story Structures, Different Reader Experiences

Let’s examine five specific structures and what they do for readers:

1. Traditional Chronological Structure

⚙️ What it does: Creates clarity and builds momentum toward a climax

🎯 Best for: Action-driven stories, complex plots that need clear progression

📚 Example in practice: In The Hunger Games, the chronological structure helps readers follow Katniss’s journey from selection to victory, creating a clear progression of rising stakes.

2. Frame Narrative Structure

⚙️ What it does: Creates perspective and reflection on past events

🎯 Best for: Stories about memory, legacy, or looking back on life-changing events

📚 Example in practice: The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks uses an elderly Noah telling his and Allie’s love story as a frame, adding emotional depth to their romance by showing its endurance.

3. Multiple-Perspective Structure

⚙️ What it does: Shows different sides of the same events, creating complexity

🎯 Best for: Stories about truth, perception, or moral complexity

📚 Example in practice: Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty reveals how different characters experience the same community and events, gradually building toward a shared climactic moment.

4. Fragmented or Non-linear Structure

⚙️ What it does: Creates disorientation that mirrors character experience

🎯 Best for: Stories about trauma, memory, or psychological states

📚 Example in practice: In Beloved by Toni Morrison, the fragmented timeline reflects Sethe’s traumatized psychological state, making readers experience her disjointed memories.

5. Reverse or “How We Got Here” Structure

⚙️ What it does: Creates intrigue about the process rather than the outcome

🎯 Best for: Stories where the journey matters more than the destination

📚 Example in practice: The film Memento reveals information in reverse order, placing viewers in the protagonist’s confused mental state as he tries to piece together what happened.

Practical Exercise: Structure Experimentation

Try this exercise to experience how structure changes a story:

 1. Write a 1-2 paragraph scene about a significant moment (a breakup, a reunion, a discovery)

 2. Rewrite the same scene using three different structures:

  – Linear/chronological

  – Beginning with the outcome and flashing back

  – Fragmented timeline with jumps

 3. Note how each version creates different emotions and emphasizes different aspects of the story

When to Break the Rules: Organic Story Structure

Sometimes the best structure is one that emerges naturally from your story rather than being imposed from the outside. J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye follows Holden Caulfield’s wandering thoughts rather than a traditional plot structure, creating an authentic experience of his restless, searching mind.

Signs your story might benefit from a more organic structure:

The protagonist’s psychological state is more important than external events;

The story is more about exploration or reflection than progression;

Traditional structures feel forced when you try to apply them.

Applying Structure to Your Current Work

As you review your own writing project, ask yourself:

What structure am I currently using, intentionally or not?

What emotion or experience am I trying to create for my reader?

Does my current structure serve that purpose effectively?

What would happen if I tried a different structure?

Remember that structure isn’t just a technical choice—it’s a powerful tool for creating meaning and emotional connection. The right structure doesn’t just organize your plot; it transforms how readers experience your story’s emotional and thematic heart.

Story Structure as a Bridge to Your Reader

When you choose your story’s structure, you’re not just deciding how to organize events—you’re designing your reader’s journey through your narrative world!

Each structure creates different emotions, emphasizes different themes, and engages readers in different ways. The most effective structure isn’t necessarily the most innovative or the most traditional—it’s the one that best serves your specific story and creates the experience you want for your reader.

By understanding how different structures affect the reading experience, you can make intentional choices that elevate your story from simply being read to being truly felt.

Erin K. Larson-Burnett, Production Manager at Atmosphere Press (submit your manuscript here!), is a born-and-raised Southerner currently living in Katy, Texas, with her husband and their small domestic zoo. She is an avid ink drinker who lives and breathes books—during the day, she works remotely with authors around the world, honing and perfecting books published through Atmosphere Press. By night, she crafts her own stories…or at least tries to. The Bear & the Rose is her debut novel.