# Are there really only a dozen or so tropes or plotlines in most movies **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 20, 2017, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-really-only-a-dozen-or-so-tropes-or-plotlines-in-most-movies/789409 "2017-06-20T00:21:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2017, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-really-only-a-dozen-or-so-tropes-or-plotlines-in-most-movies/789409/41 "2017-06-21T02:21:14Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > So while I don’t think understanding story structure is sufficient to write a good book, I have personally found the concept very helpful in learning to improve my writing. I think that aptly summarizes the point I was trying, insuccinctly, to make. You can tell a good story without structure but you’re often getting in your own way, whereas you can structure practically anything whether it is compelling or not. Telling a good story efficiently and well, however, and in a way that flows so well you don’t even notice the structure is a true art that few writers achieve consistently. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2017, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-really-only-a-dozen-or-so-tropes-or-plotlines-in-most-movies/789409/42 "2017-06-21T03:38:38Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > My creative writing teacher told me that there’s three basic types of stories: > > 1. Boy Meets Girl. > 2. The Man Who Learns Better. > 3. The Little Engine That Could. That’s basically Heinlein’s list (though he calls the last one “The Brave Little Tailor”). John Hodgeman includes three additional plots: “Man versus Man,” “Man versus Plan” and of course “Man versus Canal” (but he’s kidding). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-really-only-a-dozen-or-so-tropes-or-plotlines-in-most-movies/789409.md?page=2)