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.