Writing Fiction: What are the basic plotlines available?

Question

This will sound vague... I heard this once, a while back, and I'm not at all sure who said it, or exactly what he said. But someone once said that there are only 5 or 6 basic storylines that someone can work with. All stories are basically one of these basic ideas or plotlines. Like I said, I know this is vague. That's all I really know.

I'm looking for who said that, and a list of what those basic storylines / plotlines are.

I hope this makes more sense to you than it does to me. :) Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

The only one that I have heard, from high school english class is that there are 3:

Man vs Man- some sort of struggle between two people

Man vs Nature- surviving in the wild or surviving a difficult situation

Man vs Himself- overcoming some of mans flaws

Answer 2

Here are some links:

http://www.ipl.org/div/farq/plotFARQ.htm...

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/0011...

http://answers.google.com/answers/thread...

http://ask.yahoo.com/20070305.html

http://denisdutton.com/booker_review.htm

http://eyeshot.net/learyplots1.html

I'm not even going to editorialize. Have fun reading all the things people have to say. I hope this is what you were looking for.

Answer 3

There is really more to it than 5 or 6 basics. If you really want to know the full extent of storylines and plot, you need to review the book PLOT by Ansen Dibell from the series Elements of Fiction Writing. You will be amazed at what you will find.

Answer 4

Grab a copy of the book  Master Plots by Ronald B Tobia, ISBN: 0-89879-595-8

Answer 5

I wouldn't try and fit into a certain category, you might even make a new one up - you never know!!

If your interested in writing, I joined a free writing community called http://chapteread.com. it's worth checking out- they have some pretty cool stuff!! good luck with your story.  

Answer 6

there are plenty of theories of story writing (development arcs, conflict driven) etc.  just write the story you want and don't worry about it fitting in a format