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.

Classic story types

See also