Five questions about your story. Ten minutes. We'll show you which of the 9 architecture types
fits what you're building β and the free tools that go with it.
Already know your architecture?
Go straight to the tools β
Step 1 of 5
β¦ Step 1: Initial Spark
Let's capture what triggered this story idea. Don't edit yourself β
the raw impulse is useful information, even if it feels incomplete or contradictory.
β β β β β
π‘ Note:
The goal right now is to capture everything rattling around in your head β
not to make it coherent. You can refine later. The raw version often reveals
what the story is really about more honestly than the polished version.
β¦ Step 2: Core Concept
Beyond the plot β what is this story really about? Your answers here
directly inform which architecture type will serve your narrative best.
A story with no antagonist needs a different structure than a story
built on escalating conflict.
π‘ Note:
If you answered "no antagonist" or "no clear conflict" above, that's important information β
not a gap in your concept. Non-Conflict, Balance, and Negotiation architectures are built
for exactly these stories. Forcing a villain onto a concept that doesn't need one
is what breaks most non-Linear narratives.
β¦ Step 3: Character Concepts
Let's develop your key characters. Even partial or rough answers are useful here.
You don't need a complete character sheet β just the essentials that drive your story.
π‘ Note:
Great antagonists aren't just obstacles β they have valid motivations that genuinely
conflict with your protagonist's goals. But if your answer to "opposition type" was
"no clear antagonist," your story may be built for Non-Conflict, Negotiation,
or Balance architecture. That's a feature, not a flaw.
β¦ Step 4: Scope Assessment
What kind of project is this? Be honest β a focused story told
completely is always better than an unfinished epic.
Scope also directly informs architecture: cyclical and spiral architectures
suit generational stories, linear suits focused single-arc narratives.
π‘ Note:
Be honest about scope. A 70,000-word novel told cleanly beats a 200,000-word
series that stalls at chapter 12. You can always expand a successful concept.
Spiral and Cyclical architectures are particularly well-suited to stories that
need to cover long timelines without forcing a single linear arc over the whole span.
β¦ Your Story Concept
Here is your developed concept β and the architecture types most likely to serve it.
Each recommendation links to the hub page where you can read about the architecture,
explore the tools, and find the free ones.
π What's next:
Take your recommended architecture type to its hub page β read the full description,
watch the Academy episode if it's live, and try the free tool. You don't need All Access
to start. The free tools for Linear and Spiral (Plotting Tools) and Linear and Non-Conflict
(World Wizards) are available with any free account. If your recommended type doesn't have
a free tool yet, the hub page will show you what's available and what's coming.