Best Fantasy Story Structure for Your Novel (+ Free Template)
A good fantasy story structure is what keeps your epic tale from spiraling into chaos. One minute you’re writing about a rogue in a tavern, and the next you’ve built five empires, invented three religions, and forgotten what your main character even wanted.
That’s where story structure saves your ass.
Whether you're plotting your first novel or wrestling your fifth into submission, structure is what holds everything together—your worldbuilding, character arcs, and magic systems—and turns your epic daydream into something readers can’t put down.
In this post, I’ll break down how a fantasy novel story structure works, why it matters, and how to choose one that actually fits your story.
You’ll also get a free downloadable template to help you map it all out.
• A solid fantasy story structure keeps your novel from derailing
• The Hero’s Journey is a great starting point (free template inside)
• Save the Cat!, Three Act, and Story Circle are great alternatives
• I used Save the Cat! to fix pacing and deepen my character arc
• Structure helps fix stuck plots and bring clarity to your draft
• Choose the framework that fits your story and writing style
Why fantasy story structure matters (even if you’re a discovery writer)
If you’re more of a discovery writer, the word “structure” might sound like creative handcuffs. But here’s the thing: fantasy story structure isn’t meant to restrict your creativity.
It’s there to give your story shape. Like a skeleton. Or scaffolding. Or a map when you’re deep in the woods.
Here are a few common pain points a fantasy novel story structure can help solve:
Your plot feels like it’s meandering with no clear direction
You keep rewriting the second act because it “just feels off”
You’ve built a brilliant world... but the story itself doesn’t hit
You get stuck halfway through and don’t know what happens next
A strong fantasy story structure helps you:
Ground your plot in character-driven goals
Keep the pacing tight (especially in those murky middle sections)
Pay off emotional arcs in a way that feels earned
Actually finish the godsdamn book
The classic fantasy story structure
There are dozens of fantasy story structures out there, from Save the Cat! to the Three Act Structure to Dan Harmon's Story Circle.
But one of the most commonly used—and for good reason—is the Hero’s Journey. It’s a classic because it works.
Popularized by Joseph Campbell and used in everything from The Lord of the Rings to Star Wars, the Hero’s Journey is built to handle quests, transformations, magical mentors, trials, and big inner shifts.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the stages:
The ordinary world – Your hero's life before everything changes
Call to adventure – Something shakes up their normal world
Refusal of the call – They resist the change (who wouldn’t?)
Meeting the mentor – Help arrives in some wise (or weird) form
Crossing the threshold – They step into the unknown
Tests, allies, enemies – The bulk of the journey; lots of obstacles
Approach to the inmost cave – Getting close to the heart of the conflict
Ordeal – The big crisis. Something dies, literally or metaphorically
Reward – They gain something vital—insight, power, a relic
The road back – Time to return... but the journey’s not over
Resurrection – Final showdown, final test, final transformation
Return with the elixir – They go home changed, bringing something valuable with them
Want this in a plug-and-play format? I made a free Hero’s Journey template you can download below.
Free Hero’s Journey Template ⬇️
That said, the Hero’s Journey isn’t always the perfect fit. I actually ended up using a different structure for my current novel—and I’ll walk you through that next.
How to choose the right fantasy novel story structure
The Hero’s Journey is a great foundation, but it’s not the only tool in the shed—and it’s not always the one I reach for.
For my current WIP, I started with the Hero’s Journey to get a rough shape of the arc. But once I got deep into my story, I needed something more detailed and pacing-focused.
That’s when my editor introduced me to Save the Cat! Beat Sheet, and it helped everything snap into place.
Here are a few story structure options I recommend exploring, depending on your style and goals:
Three Act Structure – Clean and versatile. Great if your story is more character-driven than quest-driven, or if you want a flexible structure that adapts well to subplots.
Dan Harmon’s Story Circle – A simplified, more internalized version of the Hero’s Journey. Works well for character-driven fantasy and psychological arcs.
Seven Point Story Structure – Built around major plot points (hook, pinch points, midpoint, climax). This one’s useful if you like reverse-engineering your story from the ending.
Save the Cat! – Originally created for screenwriters, but surprisingly effective for fantasy novels. It breaks your story into 15 beats that help nail pacing, stakes, and character development. If you like structure with specificity (without being too rigid), this one’s a winner.
👉 I even created a beat sheet template for fantasy writers, complete with prompts and examples to guide you through each beat.
When choosing a fantasy novel story structure, ask yourself:
Is your story a literal journey, or more about internal transformation?
Do you prefer planning in detail or discovering as you go?
Are you struggling more with plot, pacing, or character arcs—or all three?
There’s no “best” structure. Just the one that helps you write a better book.
Example of using fantasy story structure in a real WIP
In my current novel, my protagonist is a pit fighter who gets pulled into a quest to restore a shattered artifact.
On the surface, it’s a classic quest plot—but the emotional arc is what really matters. She doesn’t trust anyone. She doesn’t want to be a hero. She just wants to survive and start a new life with her best friend.
I originally outlined her journey using the Hero’s Journey, but as the story got more complex, I switched over to Save the Cat!. The 15-beat structure gave me clearer pacing and helped me shape the emotional beats more deliberately.
For example:
Opening Image: She’s walking through a busy market looking for a salve to numb the pain from the previous night’s fight.
Theme Stated: “You’re more than what she’s made you become.”
Catalyst: She’s offered freedom in exchange for joining a quest.
Debate: Is it worth the risk—or is it a trap?
Break into Act Two: She leaves the pit behind and sets out.
… and so on.
Using this structure helped me make sure her growth felt earned, not accidental—and gave the plot enough tension to carry through the middle (where I usually get stuck).
Tips for applying fantasy story structure to your own novel
If you're staring at a blank page or a chaotic draft, here are a few tips:
1. Reverse-engineer your arc
Start with where your character ends up. Are they braver? More powerful? Completely broken? Then work backwards: what kind of journey would force that transformation?
2. Use structure to troubleshoot stuck plots
If your story’s stalled, map out where you are in your chosen structure. Are you stuck in Act 2 with no direction? Maybe you skipped a major turning point. Fill in the gaps.
3. Don’t force your story to fit every beat
These structures are guidelines, not gospel. It’s okay if your story skips a step or flips the order. As long as the emotional arc is clear, you’re fine.
4. Keep it character-driven
In fantasy, it’s tempting to let the world take center stage. But readers stick around for characters. Make sure your structure supports their arc—not just your lore.
5. Keep it visual
I had originally mapped out my structure in Google Sheets, but then I switched to Notion (if you're a Notion nerd like me, check out my worldbuilding setup—it includes the beat sheet template and a ton more). Seeing the big picture helps.
How fantasy story structure affects pacing
This is a big one. Pacing can make or break a fantasy novel. Too slow, and readers bounce. Too fast, and they don’t connect.
Structure helps regulate the flow:
Act 1 introduces the stakes (but doesn’t drag)
Act 2 builds tension and complications
Act 3 pays it all off
The midpoint should shift everything. The climax should feel earned. And the ending should resolve your themes, not just your plot.
Check out my breakdown of fantasy character arcs if you want to see how character development ties into pacing.
Structure is your safety net, not a straightjacket
At the end of the day, fantasy story structure is here to help you write a book that hits hard and finishes strong.
Don’t stress about hitting every single beat perfectly. Use structure like a lantern: something to guide you through the dark woods of drafting. If you veer off the path now and then? That’s half the fun.
And if you need a hand mapping it out, I’ve got you:
📥 Download the Hero’s Journey Template (free)
💰 Grab the Save the Cat! Beat Sheet ($6.99)
Frequently asked questions about fantasy story structure
Do I need to follow a fantasy story structure from the very beginning of my draft?
Not at all. If you're the type of writer who needs to wander for a bit before things click, that’s totally normal. You can retroactively apply a structure once you have a messy first draft—think of it like shaping clay after you’ve thrown it on the wheel.
Can I mix different fantasy story structures together?
Absolutely. These frameworks aren’t mutually exclusive. I’ve used the Hero’s Journey for the big-picture arc and Save the Cat! for scene-level pacing. Use whatever helps you make sense of your plot and character growth.
What if my fantasy novel has multiple POV characters?
Then you’ll probably need to map out separate arcs for each major POV. They can follow the same structure or different ones, depending on their role in the story. Just make sure each arc serves the overall narrative and converges in a satisfying way by the end.
Is fantasy story structure different from other genres?
Yes and no. The core principles of storytelling—character arcs, conflict, resolution—are universal. But fantasy often includes bigger worlds, longer timelines, and more subplots, which means structure becomes even more important to keep everything from unraveling. You’re juggling more moving parts, so having a clear framework helps you stay focused.
How detailed should my story structure be before I start writing?
That depends on how your brain works. Some writers thrive with just a few key beats, while others need every scene mapped out. If you’re unsure, try outlining the major turning points first (like the Catalyst, Midpoint, and Climax) and leave room for discovery in between. You can always fill in more later if things get muddy.
