I love this model: It's called the 7-Step Story Spine created by Kenn Adams. I have written about it many times and have used it for years. I learned this model in improv theater - yes, the stage! The stage is where great storytelling happens that takes us on an emotional journey that we care about. It's just one approach to getting started, and, as you get more experienced and comfortable with the main pieces, you can adapt, extend, add on to this model.

It's a great, simple way to think through narrative structure for any story. The 'once upon time' approach is a universal method that we all recognize and it models not only how great stories move through different elements; it works because that's how our human brains think. In stories!