There are many ways to write a story. You can choose the traditional three-act structure or Joseph Campbell's concept of the Hero's Story. Or you can follow a formula that has proven to be more effective for whatever kind of story you are planning on writing — the seven-point story structure. This structure is a way of mapping your story outline into seven crucial points that highlight the essential elements every story must contain, though in varying versions, and the important moments that move a story forward. 

To perfectly understand what the seven-point story structure entails, below, I present to you an overview of the various points of this effective structure.

The Hook:  Your hook is the beginning of your story, but you should write it with the end in mind. To effectively start the first chapter of your book, you should have decided what the last chapter will entail and begin in the opposite direction. If the character arc concludes with your main character becoming a more experienced person, start the first chapter by introducing a naïve protagonist with a potential for change. The hook introduces your main character, their environment, and the primary conflict. It is the first place to pique your reader's interest with the potential of your story.

The First Plot Point: At this point, the main character chooses to tackle the primary conflict. Often, your main character will be reluctant to get involved with the conflict. So, you need to provide a compelling reason for them to change their mind. Also, it could be that the main characters find themselves backed into a corner where they have no choice but to address the primary conflict. This point is also called the inciting conflict, and it is the point of no return.

The First Pinch: When your main character finally decides to get involved, they are introduced to a whole new setting filled with suspense and tension. Here is usually where the antagonist is introduced, and his actions begin to manifest. Your main character would have to react to these actions. The reaction of your main character to the initial conflict, and suspense from the challenges that come with addressing the inciting conflict, mostly characterize this point.

The Midpoint: This point is where the tension increases. A notable event occurs that turns your main character from being reactive to being proactive. Here, your main character strikes back and prove themselves to be a good match for the antagonist, or at least show that they have some fight within them. The protagonist is now determined to achieve his goal, and he is going all out to get what he wants.

The Second Pinch: Here, the protagonist advances at full speed but suddenly hits a major setback that kills all hope of success. This shortfall could be because of an error in judgment. Or because the antagonist pulls a trick that destroys all the efforts of the protagonist. Readers begin to doubt the ability of the protagonist to come out victorious at the end, but this leads to the peak of the action as the protagonist discovers a new angle and considers an out-of-the-box approach.

The Second Plot Point: This point is the climactic showdown of the story and the moment your readers have been anticipating. Here is the final drama between the protagonist and the antagonist. This point is where the major plot twist occurs, the ultimate battle is fought, or the deciding game is played. It has to be worth your readers' time.

The Resolution: This point is the ending scene of your story. Here, the readers get to see who your protagonist has become, the result of their transformation from the series of events that have occurred. They either remain somewhat the same, or they are changed completely. This point is also known as denouement.