The best way to learn story structure is to build a story
Plot Compass gives students a hands-on way to learn narrative structure. Pick a framework, map a story, see how the pieces fit together. No accounts required, no student data collected, no cost
Hands-on, not hypothetical
Students pick a structure like the Hero's Journey or Three-Act Structure and fill in the stages with their own stories. They learn narrative structure by actually using it
The whole story, laid out
Students can see their story's shape stage by stage. They can point to where the climax goes, where the tension builds, where the resolution lands
No accounts, no data concerns
Guest mode, local storage, nothing to collect. Students don't need to create accounts or share personal information — no COPPA headaches
RECOMMENDED STRUCTURES
Good places to start
Three-Act Structure
A good starting point for teaching narrative structure — simple enough for any level
Freytag's Pyramid
Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution — students can see each part laid out
Hero's Journey
Joseph Campbell's monomyth. Works for advanced students who want more stages to work with
Story Spine
Pixar's storytelling formula. Simple and memorable — good for younger students or workshops
Make story structure click
Students remember what they build. Give them a structure, let them fill it in, and watch the lightbulb go on
Start outlining