Reading books helps familiarize one with stories. However, analyzing a story's architecture, identifying the things that make it strong and things that make it weak, is a good way to learn the craft of storytelling.
I spent thousands of man-hours poring over books, movies, and television shows scene by scene, beat by beat. Outlining and analyzing story structure, character development, setting, worldbuilding, that I used as fodder for my Story Building Blocks Book Series. I hope the wisdom I distilled can help other writers too.
Here are some articles on understanding story structure.
Are You Plotting or Plodding?
Where to Begin?
First Steps: Situation or Story?
Stretching the Story Seed
Why Pick Genre First?
Does Genre Matter?
Keeping Your Promise
Writing for Children
The Central Question
Genre and the Overall Story Problem
Story Frame
Do You Need A B-Story?
Parallel Plots
What's Your Angle? (Choosing Points of View)
5 Tips For Avoiding POV Speedbumps
Shifting POV
Structuring a Series: The Trilogy
Structuring a Series: The Serial
Structuring a Series: The Relay
Framing the Plot Part 1 Protagonist and Antagonist
Framing the Plot Part 2 Friends
Framing the Plot Part 3 Foes
Framing the Plot Part 4 The Synopsis
No Stakes No Tension
Four Layers of Conflict
External Conflict
Antagonist Conflict
Interpersonal Conflict
Internal Conflict
Layering the Conflicts
Organizing the Layers Part 1
Organizing the Layers Part 2
Shades of Doubt
The Takeaway
Perils of the Paranormal
Jumping the Sharknado
Top 5 Things that Bore Me
Top 10 Reasons I Quit Reading
Toxic Messages in Fiction Part 1
Toxic Messages in Fiction Part 2
History's Mysteries
The information on genre can also be found in the book Story Building Blocks The Four Layers of Conflict in ebook and print editions as well as on my website www.dianahurwitz.com. Much of the material from my Story Building Block books is available in my blog posts and website along with free forms.
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