Story structures
Which structure to choose?
 Writers need to understand story structures to choose what will best tell
story.
 Story will dictate what form to use
 See story as blueprint to help determine what shape structure will take.
 Think of story as structural model - building - to help during the
reporting and writing phases.
 Foundation = story idea.
 Quotes and anecdotes support "floors" of the story.
 Plan. Always gather more information than needed.
 Write subheads - small, 3-6 word headlines - every few grafs to help
organize story. Can remove the subheads.
 Organize story in sequence that helps readers understand how one
item leads to another.
Inverted pyramid
 Basic story form.
 Begins with summary lede.
 Lede supported with specific
information in next graf or two.
 Body of story includes
supporting detail.
 Written from most important
information - climax - at start of
story to least important detail at
end.
 Use news judgment as to what's
important.
 Story structure gives reader
crucial information quickly.
 Primary structure for breaking
news. Used frequently online.
1. Summary lede –
most important info
- climax
2. Specific info
supports lede
3. Supporting
detail
4. Trivia
Wall Street Journal
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"Dow Jonesing"
Begin with specific topic
Expand into broader issue
Use soft lede that focuses on
one person, scene or event –
anecdote.
 Nut graph - the story in a
"nut"shell – theme. Tells what
the story is about and why it is
important.
 Broadens to say why it’s
important to more than one
person.
 End with a "circle kicker."
Soft lede –
specific
person
Nut graf
Why important? –
story broadens
Circle
kicker
Martini or Hourglass
 Start story with a hard
news summary lede.
 Then proceed in
chronological order.
 Works well with
dramatic action, police
stories
 When chronology
begins, use overview
attribution.
Summary lede
Backup graf
supports lede
Overview
attribution
Chronology
List
 Summary news lede.
 Add paragraphs of backup
information.
 List supporting points, using
bullets.
 Useful with several important
points to make.
 Limit lists to five items or less if
list is high or in middle of story.
 Too many list items will tire
reader.
 At end of story, list can be
lengthy.
Summary lede
Backup graf
•List key points
•List key points
•List key points
Pyramid
 Chronological storytelling,
 How novels are written.
 After lede comes
foreshadowing - clues
about something exciting
or mysterious that will
happen later.
 Then chronological
storytelling.
 Works best in brief stories.
 Suspense compels the
reader to finish.
Feature lede
Foreshadowing
Chronological storytelling
Sections
 Divide story into sections.
 Book chapters.
 Separate sections with series of
dots or large capital letter.
 Each section presents different
view or time element.
 Useful for investigative, in-depth
and lengthy feature stories
 Organize story by points of view
or time.
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Narrative
 Stories have characters,
settings, themes, conflicts, plots
and resolutions.
 Use suspense or compelling
character to keep reader glued.
 Climax - a surprise or twist comes at the end.
 Need fascinating scenes,
dramatic dialogue and details.
 Grab readers' attentions quickly
 Intrigue them.
 Satisfy curiosity.
Grab readers’ attentions
Use suspense, fascinating scenes,
dialogue and details
Climax