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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/46896
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

## Do you want the most stories, or the least stories?

**The _ad infinitum_ of plot lists** is probably the book **Plotto: The Master Book of All Plots** by William Wallace Cook. It's a manic collection of (often bizarre) story vignettes, with an algebraic formula for how to string them together. It claims to offer over 2000 plot conflicts, based on his organizing structure **"_Purpose_ opposed by _Obstacle_ yields _Conflict_"**.

**Plotto** is essentially a list of (spin wheel) _character goals_ that are thwarted by (spin wheel) _stuff that happens_, connected by an index of stock characters and supporting roles, sort of in the vein of a _Choose Your Own Adventure_ book, but much shorter. The resulting "plot" is a few sentences long, often involving a confusing list of characters and sub-characters, and the author is still expected to provide the _creativity_ and _logic_ to turn it into an actual story.

**The most reductive plot list** is probably resolving every possible story to **3 Act Structure** , a formula with a _beginning_, _middle_, and _end_ spaced more or less evenly.

## What is the goal?

Is the goal to find a system that inspires creativity? Or is the goal to use a system that helps "normalize" every story into the simplest familiar pattern?

**7 is an arbitrary number** , and as stated in other answers and comments, the OP's list is apples and oranges (and a couple of onions). What, exactly is being compared (or differentiated) in these supposed "archetypes"?

Is it the _progress_ of the protagonists status? (Rags to Riches)  
Is it a _Theme or feeling_ the reader is left with? (Tragedy)  
Is it _events_ that happen in the story? (Voyage and Return)  
Is it the _central conflict_? (Overcoming a Monster)  
Is it the author's _style and voice_? (Comedy)

Any system might be helpful, I guess, _if the system is based on consistent principles_, or at least if the goal is clear.

## No, this is not all the story archetypes

A century later, Plotto's extensive list is extremely dated, more a comical curiosity of the past, and one man's attempt to organize a "story mill" so he could churn out an amazing _quantity_ of stories. However, most of his stories published in periodicals under dozens of pen names that fit whatever genre he was targetting, are now lost or forgotten. The few that were converted into novels are not well reviewed. Apparently being a master of formulaic archetypes doesn't make you a good author, just a prolific one.

Formulas are great when you get paid by word-count and you need to churn out generic filler, page after page. **For memorable stories that stand the test of time, the author still has to do all the work.**

Original score: 12