This infographic is based on some ideas from the great novelist Kurt Vonnegut (his
Breakfast of Champions is one of the genius books of all time, IMHO), as
turned into an infographic by Maya Eilam (and here's a
full-size view). You'll want to consult the chart for details; the eight types are:
Man in Hole
Boy Meets Girl
From Bad to Worse
Which Way is Up?
Creation Story
Old Testament
New Testament
Cinderella
And here is Vonnegut himself in a vintage video on
The Shapes of Stories... and you might also want to look at
Vonnegut's Eight Tips on How to Write a Great Story.
