Source¹¹1 Dan Wells on Story Structure, YouTube video (Dan Wells, 2010). 

The seven points are:

1. Hook
2. Plot turn 1
3. Pinch 1
4. Midpoint
5. Pinch 2
6. Plot turn 2
7. Resolution

But: before writing a story, you need to have an idea/concept. You need to know who the characters are, what the setting is, what the conflict is. Only then can you start with the plot.

Details, in plotting order:

1. Resolution: This is the climax.
2. Hook: The other end. Easy trick: Put MC in opposite state, for a growth character arc. Another kind of arc: shift.
3. Midpoint: MC moves from reaction to action.
4. Plot turn 1: Introduce conflict and set the story in motion. Call to adventure, confront new ideas, meet new people, discover new secrets.
5. Plot turn 2: The midpoint is where MC decides to do something, and in plot turn 2, the MC follows up on that decision. Gives the last pieces of information to make it happen. Often: “the power is in you!” Or: something horrible just happened, but now we have the clue that we need.
6. Pinch 1: Apply pressure. Force the MC into action. Add danger to a safe environment.
7. Pinch 2: Apply more pressure, until the situation seems hopeless. Jaws of defeat. Example: loss of a mentor (or companions), loss of everything.

This is a skeleton and needs to be fleshed out: round characters, rich environments, ice monster prologue, try/fail cycles, and subplots.

Extra bits:

• Ice monster prologue (Game of Thrones): Grab reader before the actual story is going to grab them.
• Try-fail cycle: MC should try and fail multiple times before succeeding. Victory needs to be earned. Can be real failures, or victories (obstacles that have to be conquered in succession).
• Plots and subplots: Also plot them out with this system, and weave them together. (e.g. action, character, romance, betrayal plots.)

See also

• Dan Wells on Story Structure: transcript

References

• From the Screenwriting community on Reddit: Dan Wells’ seven-point story structure