The Three Act Structure: The EASIEST Way To Plan Out Story Arcs In Your Manga

Рет қаралды 27,126

Күн бұрын

In today's video we will talk about THE THREE ACT STRUCTURE, a narrative tool used by MANY professional comic, manga, manhua, manwha, manfra, and graphic novel artists. We will go over the 3 ACTS (Beginning, Middle, and End). We will also go into the specifics of each act such as the exposition, inciting incident, plot point 1, rising action, plot point 2, pre-climax, climax, resolution, and denouement.
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►TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Introduction
0:02 What Is The Three Act Structure
0:36 The Importance Of The Three Act Structure
1:21 ACT 1: THE SETUP
1:27: How To Write Exposition
2:04 How To Create An Inciting Incident For Your Story
3:12 Writing Plot Point 1 In Your Comic Or Manga
3:41 ACT 2: THE CONFRONTATION
3:42 How To Create Rising Action In Your Novel
4:32 The Midpoint Of Your Story
5:24 Writing Plot Point 2 In Your Graphic Novel
6:14 ACT 3: THE RESOLUTION
6:28 What Is The Pre-Climax Of A Story?
7:48 Creating An Exciting Climax
8:18 What Is A Denouement In Literature
9:17 Final Thoughts
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#Comics #Manga #Webtoons

Пікірлер: 134

@davianthomas8559 Жыл бұрын

Bleach has been an inspiration of my story and some of my characters

@MonitorComics Жыл бұрын

That's awesome to hear! Bleach was one of the very first manga that I ever read so I agree!!

@yagnikbose8973 Жыл бұрын

Hey! I am trying to build a fictional shounen/seinen world. Would you mind elaborating on your process of building your characters and your story?

@zeria9344 Жыл бұрын

Im currently writing a story rtn and was surprised how I followed this just from what I was inspired by. I love your vids, they help so much!

@MonitorComics Жыл бұрын

That's awesome to hear! Thanks for taking the time to watch!!

@O_o-simp Жыл бұрын

What is the name of your story? I want to read it

@Fibey 6 ай бұрын

How's it going?

@oldsoul3539 2 ай бұрын

I've heard it put as: 2. The interesting bit(s) 1. Set up context that makes it possible for the interesting bit(s) to happen 3. How did everything work out in the end You don't have to write in order from start to finish, you can start with an awesome scene in mind and wrap the rest of the story around it

@ojembo 14 күн бұрын

The fact "The mid-point" was at the middle of the video is quite impressive

@zara946 11 күн бұрын

This video was really helpful and easy to understand! Thank you so much for making this video!

@inkyshit2533 Жыл бұрын

So smooth 😭❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥 and so clean😤🧡🧡

@mystrngdefender9505 Жыл бұрын

Another great video. I've actually been interested in writing stories & you've been a tremendous help on giving me things to consider. I'm glad I came across your channel.

@MonitorComics Жыл бұрын

Thank you! I'm really glad to hear that! Best of luck with your story!

@pencilassassin572 Жыл бұрын

Great video! I'll definitely use this as a reference point when I outline my comic

@MonitorComics Жыл бұрын

That's awesome to hear! Best of luck with your comic!

@azariahspence8551 Жыл бұрын

Thanks again for the tips, Monitor!

@MonitorComics Жыл бұрын

Of course! Thanks for taking the time to watch!

@RoseKB22 Жыл бұрын

This is really helpful!

@wiggie666 Жыл бұрын

Man i need to finish my supernatural fighting book series vitamin bullet. It is quite the saga and the ending will be worth it for the readers I hope. Great video.

@watchforever1724 11 ай бұрын

Thanks for making this video

@jeremiahwalker3795 Жыл бұрын

Some more ideas 1: How to Write Good Couples 2: How to Write Disabled Characters 3: How to avoid filler That’s all I got but what do you think of them ?

@Mahlak_Mriuani_Anatman Жыл бұрын

3 is easy

@geraldlang6537 Жыл бұрын

I hope he does the good couples one!

@stridin Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the video.

@coptanium3175 Жыл бұрын

Video idea: I would be interested in how one would come up with a successful name for their manga! Been working on mine for over 4 years now and I still don't have a name lmao

@MonitorComics Жыл бұрын

That is definitely on my list! Thank you for the video suggestion!

@robertfitzgibbons2165 Жыл бұрын

I have had the same problem for a couple of my stroies. One I can't figure out a name for it at all and I have been working on it for two years now. The other being the name I want is already taken.

@coptanium3175 Жыл бұрын

@@MonitorComics True and factual, stay real. 😔🙏

@coptanium3175 Жыл бұрын

@@robertfitzgibbons2165 Dude same, or the name is contradicted by something. It's difficult, especially if you don't have a special item or an event as a goal in mind, nor have a special gimmick that anyone understand when read lmao

@gnelson7225 10 ай бұрын

A good idea is to keep a notebook (digital or physical) where you write down names/words that catch your ears. Usually if a name/word lingers in my brain for a bit after I've seen it somewhere, I write it down for use later, since something about that name/word works and is memorable. I have my own notebook separated into 4 categories: Character Names, Location Names, Story Names, and Miscellaneous (for Attack Names, Weapons, Items, Terms, etc).

@juliogaytan20 Жыл бұрын

This was great to watch. I felt the same way when I saw mugen train. That arch is what I considered the turning point of the story. I always loved the second act of a series and why I always consider them as the Turning Point and by far the most important part.

@MonitorComics Жыл бұрын

YESSS

@MonitorComics Жыл бұрын

I'm glad you enjoyed the video! Thanks for taking the time to watch!

@user-td9ul4bw8i 4 ай бұрын

This is huge thanks dude

@MonitorComics 4 ай бұрын

Of course! Glad the video could help!

@officialmycrazyamericanfat7811 Жыл бұрын

Would this kind of structure be applicable to each arc of a story? If not how would it differ?

@MonitorComics Жыл бұрын

Yes! In simplest terms, story arcs are just microcosms, or smaller versions of the bigger picture. A story arc will have a beginning, middle an end. A story arc will begin when an inciting incident causes the characters to do something or go somewhere. A story arc will usually have an arc villain, minor antagonist, side conflict etc that needs to be dealt with. There is usually a "big moment" or climax during a story arc. After that is solved, things wind down and the story arc resolves, leading into the next arc!

@mikol.b.8363 Жыл бұрын

I love your videos and they helped mir a lot with my story

@MonitorComics Жыл бұрын

I'm really glad to hear that!! Thanks for taking the time to watch!

@mikol.b.8363 Жыл бұрын

@@MonitorComics I have watched almost every of your videos

@MonitorComics Жыл бұрын

@@mikol.b.8363 Thank you!!

@buberts2186 Жыл бұрын

Your videos are amazing and helpful but could you do a video on pacing for manga.

@shsljazzy291 Жыл бұрын

I love watching these with no intent to ever write a story of my own

@AdamDoesComics 8 ай бұрын

Hardest spoilers for Goodnight PunPun Jesus. Heads up

@iwoso Жыл бұрын

Now I see how jjk does this so much help man ❤

@MonitorComics Жыл бұрын

I'm really glad this video could help! Thanks for taking the time to watch!

@DrFuntimes Жыл бұрын

I’m actually using this for my story

@MonitorComics Жыл бұрын

That's awesome to hear!!

@grimreaper9735 3 ай бұрын

Is it bad that in the middle of my manga, the main character does not lose in battle? But he loses morally and does not continue to fight for the sake of the goal. He changes the target to another one. "at now moment,Main character the goal becomes to change himself because he has crossed the line of humanity" and I'm sorry for possibly bad English. I use a translator)

@Dephylk108 Жыл бұрын

This year, I've finally decided to create my first manga but my art styles is bad compare to other manga so please can you make a video about how to improve my art style

@qlitch Жыл бұрын

oh neat i watched this to kinda get an idea of if i wanted to change something up but it turns out my series is following this exact formula to a tee

@MonitorComics Жыл бұрын

That's awesome to hear! If you wanted to spice things up you could always alter the structure. Many authors do that to make their work feel less like the others!

@qlitch Жыл бұрын

@@MonitorComics yeah I’m half worried it’ll come of as super cliche now so I’ll have to rethink a few plot points

@jsmlxjs5268 Жыл бұрын

I'll use this as reference

@MonitorComics Жыл бұрын

Glad to hear that! Best of luck with your story!

@shadowslayer9988 Жыл бұрын

What about a video on how to make a good first chapter.

@robertfitzgibbons2165 Жыл бұрын

I usualy start with the three act structure when writing a stroy. To write any story you need to know how it begins, and how it ends but it is also good to know where the mid point will be. But I also use other plot structures when writing. I start with the three act for the base of the story, then use either the hero journey or stroy circle for the main story. Sometimes when writing I can get a beginning and middle point but not know what the end point is yet.

@MonitorComics Жыл бұрын

That's awesome to hear! Thanks for sharing some of your experiences using these narrative structures!

@mofubunsart Жыл бұрын

Quick question what acts can you drag out without making your comic boring?

@JustCookieHead Жыл бұрын

Can you make a vid on how to write manipulative characters? (If yk how too)

@MonitorComics Жыл бұрын

I could add it to my list of upcoming topics, thank you for the video suggestion!

@gabreiliusgen4519 Жыл бұрын

Man just single handedly spoiled alot of key plot points in lots of series without a single spoiler warning

@MonitorComics Жыл бұрын

you voluntarily clicked on a video that is about a beginning middle and end and got surprised when an end was mentioned

@kierantarbuck5018 4 ай бұрын

question, is there a set gap In between the beginning and the inciting incident for chapters or is it a case of Beginning is chapter 1 and chapter 2 is the inciting incident? Good video really good advice.

@MonitorComics 4 ай бұрын

Thank you for taking the time to watch! There is no "one correct answer" since every story is different. Speaking generally (in my own opinion), I think every chapter should follow the three act structure to some degree. Character Arcs are the exception where you might for example, have the inciting incident be in chapter 10, the climax be chapter 15 and the resolution be chapter 20. To get a feel for the formula, I recommend rereading the first few chapters of your favorite manga! In most cases, Chapter 1 is the longest chapter (45-60ish pages). It usually has a clear beginning middle and end. Chapter 2 and 3 usually begin a story arc which is why they feel a bit open ended. USUALLY, chapter 3 has some sort of climax or satisfying resolution because of the Three Chapter Rule (readers will drop a story if they aren't hooked in the first 3 chapters/episodes). But like I said, there are no "hard rules," many successful stories have done their own thing. That is a common pattern I've noticed though

@JustCookieHead Жыл бұрын

i feel like making your own structure will be exciting, but you gotta execute it rght

@MonitorComics Жыл бұрын

Very true!

@JahzaraCampbell 5 ай бұрын

I have a question is this for a chapter, volume or the whole series

@abdenourabdenour1172 Жыл бұрын

Video idea : how to pick pen name - artist name

@desertchannel7 Жыл бұрын

could you do a video on intelligent and genius characters?

@MonitorComics Жыл бұрын

It is on my list! The topic is a bit niche though, so it's not a high priority at the moment

@gnelson7225 10 ай бұрын

Does each and every issue/chapter/episode of the story also need to follow the 3 Act structure? Or is it just the overall story that needs the 3 Act structure? Or both? I find it difficult how one would apply the 3 Act structure to something like a filler, recap, or exposition chapter.

@MonitorComics 10 ай бұрын

In general, no. Self contained stories like One Shots DO follow the 3 act structure usually, since the story should conclude at the end. With ongoing series, usually the 3 act structure is used for story arcs, or a series of chapters. So for example a chapter 1 could be the introduction, the climax happens in chapter 5 and the story arc ends in chapter 10. Then you would repeat the structure for the next story arc. Each story is different though, so sometimes stories might be told out of order, events might be skipped, cliffhangers, anticlimactic stories etc etc Hopefully that helps a bit!

@keeganmason4859 Жыл бұрын

Arcane and Invincible are my favorites

@MonitorComics Жыл бұрын

Great choices! Both super well written stories!

@priamason284 Жыл бұрын

Love it my favorite of course is the dragon ball franchise and yes avatar the last air bender

@MonitorComics Жыл бұрын

Great picks!

@keylakey0022 Жыл бұрын

What's the name of the manga in 8:45?

@daeve915 Жыл бұрын

Anyone know the sauces for the mangas used?

@Serocco Жыл бұрын

Shout out to Food Wars and Highschool of the Dead getting some love

@MonitorComics Жыл бұрын

YESSIR

@mangaka365 Жыл бұрын

Hey monitor, just asking a question, about series like tokyo Ghoul, where the manga is divided into two parts the original and :Re, I want to know, how does it manage to to fall into this structure, when the original manga started of normally ends up (spoiler alert) kaneki gets completely beaten up by Arima.sort of leaving the story at midpoint. Then :Re begins normally again and then does the climax again and then complete the chain by having a happy ending.

@MonitorComics Жыл бұрын

In Tokyo Ghoul's case, I believe the situation was Ishida wanted to tie up loose ends left at the end of the original series. I think of TG and TG:Re as 2 separate series set in the same world. It's been a while since I've read it, but if it followed the 3 act structure or some other structure, it would have "completed" at the end of TG and restarted with RE All of these narrative structures can be used for Story Arcs, so it's pretty common for them to repeat

@mangaka365 Жыл бұрын

@@MonitorComics I see thanks so much

@shadowslayer9988 Жыл бұрын

You can use this for writing a chapter as well.

@MonitorComics Жыл бұрын

True!

@thesandyartist9318 Жыл бұрын

Do you think certain manga and anime have invented their own structures, that can be reused like traditional ones, for newer and upcoming stories?

@MonitorComics Жыл бұрын

Yes! The two series that I mentioned, Attack on Titan and Higurashi: When They Cry do some cool things that I hope more series do. Attack On Titan for example, shows the very last scene of the story in the very first panel of chapter 1. It also withholds a lot of essential information that isn't revealed until Season 4. Once you start seeing these flashbacks and gaining this information, everything that has happened so far make a lot more sense Higurashi is a bit different, it is broken up into Story Arcs that are divided into 2 halves, one half called Question Arcs and another half called Answer Arcs. Each volume focuses on a different "question," or curse that the characters need to deal with. Almost always, most of the characters end up dying and then the world is "reset" in the next story arc. I think the first 6 or so volumes are ALL question arcs, so for a while you're guessing what is actually going on. Each "Answer" arc addresses the specific situation that happened in its matching "question arc" and connects all of the storylines together

@thesandyartist9318 Жыл бұрын

@@MonitorComics Yea! I find this really interesting, to me it's really cool when something inovates a newer and more fresh way to tell a compelling story, rather than just continuing an existing method, That's why I highly Admire Chainsaw Man's approach to shonen, and Attack on Titan's way of telling a grand story with all the less chapters than most other highly praised anime and manga!

@MonitorComics Жыл бұрын

@@thesandyartist9318 Very true! I'd say just take these story structure templates and a loose blueprint you can refer to if you ever get a bit stuck As long as someone follows one of these structures, their story should be "well written" to a degree Once you get the basics, you have room to experiment and try new things

@thesandyartist9318 Жыл бұрын

@@MonitorComics Agreed! Thanks for the advice!

@crazychaba9816 Жыл бұрын

Kisho Ten Ketsu

@elite3976 Жыл бұрын

What up monitor, is there a simple method to creating a prologue for a three act structure?

@MonitorComics Жыл бұрын

Yes and no, the only reason someone would make a prologue is if there's background information that the reader needs to know BEFORE the events in your story. A prologue should be a lead in to Chapter 1 and future worldbuilding

@elite3976 Жыл бұрын

Alright thanks I appreciate it ❤️

@jasomega2446 Жыл бұрын

0:03

@nanom9955 Жыл бұрын

What do you think of a manga like my hero but with a mix of dragon ball

@MonitorComics Жыл бұрын

I see them essentially as the same thing. They're both shonen type manga with flashy superpowers with a big focus on battling good guys. For a sales pitch I'd recommend combining two completely different series

@nanom9955 Жыл бұрын

No what I mean is the superhero concept of My hero mixed with the power system and fights of dragon ball and also the powers can range from fire manipulation to being able to break the laws of physics and gravity or summon monsters (like jjk's curses)

@robertoromero8594 Жыл бұрын

Why the shade towards Promised Neverland? It's perfect from start to finish

@MonitorComics Жыл бұрын

Season 2 of the anime is one of the lowest rated mainstream series LOL

@MonitorComics Жыл бұрын

The manga is much better though, I'm personally a anime-only with The Promised Neverland, so I was taking a jab at it's awful second season

@watchforever1724 11 ай бұрын

@@MonitorComicsisn’t the final third parts of the manga kinda meh with audiences ?I remember people were not happy about it

@watchforever1724 11 ай бұрын

Cause the series isn’t like by everyone

@MonitorComics 11 ай бұрын

@@watchforever1724 Yeah the manga has had mixed reviews, the second season of the anime itself is unanimously hated

@SpookySquid14 Жыл бұрын

So the 3 act structure is used for the entire story?

@MonitorComics Жыл бұрын

Yes! You could also use it for Story Arcs!

@GYM_K1D Жыл бұрын

I get a load off my ispo from impound comics

@바보Queen 11 ай бұрын

but how do you keep this structure in a super long on going story?.....

@MonitorComics 11 ай бұрын

The most straightforward way is to think of your story in terms of Story Arcs. Each Arc would follow the Three Act Structure and repeat again when a new arc starts

@jda7667 Жыл бұрын

So how would I start my story seeing as it's similar to RWBY and league of legends

@MonitorComics Жыл бұрын

I'm not super familiar with either of those titles, I have watched the first 2 or so seasons of RWBY, but if my memory is correct the first episode was just Ruby beating up a bunch of bad guys. That approach is pretty common in most stories with chapter 1 being a self contained story where an enemy is beaten. Naruto did that with Naruto and Iruka beating Mizuki. Bleach did it with Ichigo and Rukia beating Fishbone D. Food Wars did it with Yukihira beating the person trying to shut his restaurant down. One Piece did it with Shanks beating up that other pirate. If that setup works for your story it could be worth pursuing!

@jda7667 Жыл бұрын

@@MonitorComics it was gonna start pretty dark actually but I see where your getting at

@jeremiahwalker3795 Жыл бұрын

How to write Child Characters please

@MonitorComics Жыл бұрын

I can add it to my list! Thank you for the video suggestion!

@jeremiahwalker3795 Жыл бұрын

@@MonitorComics Your welcome and sweet I love your channel and really need it too because I want to be a cartoonist so much and I don’t wanna be a bad cartoonist but thanks to you I get to learn new things so thank you so much for your channel

@bobalinx8762 Жыл бұрын

Don’t Japanese stories use a four-act structure?

@MonitorComics Жыл бұрын

Yes! What you are thinking of is the kishōtenketsu. I was considering making a video on this but I don't know how interested people are in all of these different story structures lol. Still debating whether or not to talk about freytag's pyramid, the fichtean curve, and the 7 point plot structure

@bobalinx8762 Жыл бұрын

@@MonitorComics I would be quite interested in learning how it’s implied in writing for chapters.

@adamshafeeq8685 Жыл бұрын

Idk if it's just me, but anime and manga feel too serious. Characters feel too seriously, they're fight scenes feel like a game of life or death, there's things like metaphors, themes and life lessons that go way over my head, etc. This most likely could be me, I'm just not into stories that are uber serious. Sometimes I don't even know if a certain story wants me to not take things seriously.

@malosprime4910 Жыл бұрын

Different tastes for different people and that's ok. It depends on what you want to tell. We tell stories because of our interests or a lesson we want to convey.

@MonitorComics Жыл бұрын

@@malosprime4910 Great point!

@MonitorComics Жыл бұрын

Every reader is into different things. For some readers, they like that "high stakes" setup. Like an easy example is Sword Art Online, you die in the game you die in real life. The enjoyment comes from those stakes, if you screw up you're done. The story wouldn't be the same if you could just respawn right away

@iborodavid7243 Жыл бұрын

This story structure seems generic as if you have enough experience consuming manga you wouldn't really feel exceptional overwhelmed emotionally after the read... doesn't mean it couldn't make for a great story... mob psycho uses this I think... and it's still one of my best anime out there so it doesn't mean this is bad

@MonitorComics Жыл бұрын

Every story structure kind of feels "generic" because its a common template. If someone follows any of these structures they SHOULD have a complete story I always try to tell people to use these as a starting point. Many great series deviate or do their own thing to make their work feel unique This video and the other ones about story structure are just for the people who have zero idea what makes a good story and need a starting point or blueprint

@iamgameing3840 Жыл бұрын

let him cook

@MonitorComics Жыл бұрын

I burnt the food

@iamgameing3840 Жыл бұрын

@@MonitorComics thats cap bro made a whole meal

@hobbsmakescomics Жыл бұрын

Could you also tell these kids to cut intros and prologues and instead build the world in story? If I have to read one more front loaded Webtoon episode 1 explaining the magic system and telling me about a centuries long conflict and blah blah blah- so help me... No one cares, get to the story. If its good we'll want to know and figure it out as we go on the journey with the characters.

@Artkid-ie1il Жыл бұрын

I’ve been inspired by a lot of artist from anime to manga and have always dreamed of creating my own I sometimes need a bit more explanation on in depth stories so I’m experimenting with Dan harmons story circle and it’s been helping me a fair bit tho there’s still somethings I’m trying to work out I watch your videos in hope to have a deeper understanding of professional presentation when it comes to creating a story and would love some input on my ideas if your not too busy I have this amazing idea I want to share with others I would just like some valuable opinions and tips if that’s not too much to ask for @Monitorcomics

@MonitorComics Жыл бұрын

At the moment I only give feedback on completed storyboards or finished comic pages, I don't have the time to read paragraphs of scripts or story ideas from hundreds of people I do plan on creating a paid service for something like that in the near future though!