Story Structure: How the 6 Elements of Story Work in How to Train Your Dragon
Your Next Draft
See the story structure that makes this brilliant movie work.
The six elements of story are the essentials of great story structure. And in the last few episodes of Your Next Draft, I’ve shared a lot of theory about them: what they are, how they work, and where to use them.
But theory only gets you so far. Story structure makes a lot more sense when you can see it at work.
So in this episode, I’m breaking down the movie How to Train Your Dragon so you can see the six elements in practice.
You’ll learn:
- How the inciting incident sets up the conflict of the entire story
- The difficult question Hiccup faces in the crisis—and why both his options have consequences
- Why the climax delivers so well that it gives me chills every time I see it
- And more!
See story structure at work in this masterful example. Then, put it to work in your own stories and craft your own masterpieces!
Links mentioned in the episode:
- Get the Scene Analysis Worksheet: alicesudlow.com/sceneworksheet
- Ep. 27: Value Shifts: How to Craft Compelling Change in Every Story
- Ep. 42: The 6 Essential Elements of Every Novel, Act, and Scene
- Ep. 43: Why the 6 Elements of Story Are the Key to All Great Stories
- Ep. 44: 3 Ways to Apply the 6 Elements of Story Structure to Your Novel
Want my support in your revision?
In Story Clarity, we’ll work one-on-one to sharpen your story’s structure and craft a revision plan that works. If you’re ready for thoughtful, personalized feedback from an editor who gets what you’re trying to do, I’d love to hear what you’re working on.
Get started by telling me about your story here.
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