When it comes to writing and art in general, there are no rules that limit creativity. Of course, guidelines and methods do exist to make writing coherentFor example, grammar can be viewed as a set of rules for literature.. Rules are often in place to prevent common mistakes and provide a general understanding for everyone.

But the writer is ultimately free to do whatever they want; nothing is forbidden. And despite this freedom, there are certain notions that always emerge in all writing, elements that remain consistent across all story structure.

Because first and foremost, every story has a structure. The structure is the plan of when part of the content is to appear. It provides a logical order for the story elements to unravel. A structure is essential because all ideas are to be placed at the right moment to maintain interest for the reader. And as a story becomes more interesting, it also becomes longer and complex. As such, a story is divided into distinct zones. Milestones like chapters, acts, or key events help define and separate each zone.

The role and number of zones depend on many factors, but if a story is deconstructed into a single sentence, the structure would consist of just two parts: a beginning and an end. Because a story always has a beginning and an end. They are complementary; the beginning introduces the main idea and acts as the starting point, while the end delivers the payoff of that idea. Together, they create a direction that guides the author during their writing.

It is important to remember that the story may include expositions or subplots that diverge from the main plot. However, its direction must always wrap up the core idea and deliver a conclusion without any loose ends. The more a story progresses, the closer it should come to an end, towards a conclusion.

Having a structure is crucial because it creates a plan that will be used as the foundation for writing a story. While this isn’t a rule per se, lacking a proper structure can result in an incoherent mess. But adhering to structural principles can greatly assist the writer in developing a cohesive story.