Classic story types

Disciplines > Storytelling > Plots > Classic story types

There are a number of classic types of story. Here are some of these.

• Action: Non-stop chasing, fighting, etc.
• Adventure: Heroes and incredible action in escapist fun.
• Biographic drama: A story of a real life.
• Body swap: Being someone else.
• Caper: Loveable rogues pull off big heist without hurting people.
• Chase: Pursuit, crashes, stunts and capture (perhaps).
• Chick Flick: Fun for women.
• Classroom drama: Emotional students and brilliant teachers.
• Comedy: Funny things happen to funny people.
• Courtroom drama: Lawyers save the day.
• Crime: Good guys catch bad guys.
• Disaster: Terrible things happen. People survive.
• Docu-drama: Documentary made interesting.
• Drama: Just everyday excitement.
• Escape: Good people captured by bad people. Escape themselves.
• Espionage: Spies, counterspies and political secrets.
• Fantasy: Wizards and heroes battle with monsters. Good guys win.
• Horror: Scary things trigger fear.
• Kitchen-sink drama: Mundane stuff at home.
• Mystery: Solving puzzles.
• Period drama: Rich people in costumes have petty problems.
• Pioneer: People go to strange places. Discover themselves.
• Psychological thriller: Scary and subtle excitement.
• Rescue: Saving people from harm.
• Romance: The path of true love is not smooth, but it is inevitable.
• Science fiction: One of the above, set in the future.
• Slapstick: Comedy with custard.
• Survival: Man vs. nature. Man wins. Just.
• Swashbuckler: Pirates and daring on the Spanish Main.
• Teen drama: Adolescence and high emotion.
• Thriller: Exciting things happen.
• Tragedy: Sad things happen. People die.
• War: Big battles. Good guys win in the end.
• Western: Cowboys, Indians and the wild west.
• Whodunnit: Detective detects who done it.

See also