#Storywriting arc how to#

If you want to maximize the potential of your story, there’s no need to stop at a single story arc. An excellent example of a Rags to Riches story is the classic, Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, where the protagonist, Pip, is poor at first, and then comes into money. No two stories are the same and putting your own variation on the story is essential. You can follow them completely, deviate from them, or simply take inspiration from them. Whether you focus on a Rags to Riches story (a complete rise), a Riches to Rags story (a complete fall), an Oedipus story (falling and then rising and then falling again) or an Icarus story (rising and then falling), embrace these story arcs. There are many archetypal narrative arcs you can use or take inspiration from. Brainstorming beforehand and going in with a clear plan is the best way to ensure you have a consistent and well-written narrative arc on your hands. When doing so, keep character motivations, changes in setting, the themes and subject matter, and conflict in mind. Use these building blocks to plan out your narrative arc before putting pen to paper. The 5 Ws are the “who”, “why”, “when”, “what”, and “where” of your story. If you want to write a great story arc, it’s essential to start out with the basics, such as establishing the 5 Ws and using them in your planning. By building this structure and backbone, you establish the parts of the story. Building a story arc is the first step to writing a best-selling novel. No matter the genre or kind of story you’re writing, a solid narrative arc is a must-have.

#Storywriting arc how to#

How to Write a Story Arc: Creating a Compelling Narrative Arc All the plotlines and subplots are wrapped up, and the author ensures that the story comes to a satisfactory end. The resolution or denouement is the conclusion of the story. The protagonist’s decision or actions have resulted in this falling action, and the story starts tying up any loose ends. Tensions ease, and the conflict is solved. Falling ActionĪt this stage, the climax has ended, and the story is dealing with the fallout.

Paying attention to it and investing time in it will ensure you stick the landing in your story. It’s important to remember that the climax is an instrumental part of the narrative arc. Usually, the story’s climax is when the protagonist must make an important decision. It is when tension is at its peak, and all the characters and subplots in the novel come together to drive home the conflict. The climax of your story is when rising action comes to a head and results in a moment that directly solves the central conflict. This is because the rising action stage is the meat and potatoes of your story.

In addition to characters interacting with each other, authors should invest in action, complications, dialogue, and more to ensure this stage is fully fleshed out. This is when conflict starts building, and readers start to understand what the story will be about. Rising action refers to an event – an inciting incident that puts the story into motion. This usually consists of introducing the protagonist, the setting, and more.

This is the introduction where the reader gets to know important background information that sets up what is about to happen throughout the novel. The exposition refers to the story’s setup. Properly developing these stages is the key to writing a compelling narrative arc. Most of the time, story arcs have five key elements: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. It’s referred to as an arc because it consists of rising action, a climax (peak), and falling action. What Is a Story Arc?Ī story arc or narrative arc is the plot and structure of your novel. This article will discuss story arcs and how to write compelling ones. Since a captivating narrative arc is essential for good writing and a satisfying ending, it must be mastered by every aspiring writer. This is the story arc in your book, and it is made up of the events that shape a story. Every story has a beginning, a middle, and an end. Simply put, a story arc or a narrative arc is the structure and pattern of a story. However, this may not seem very straightforward when you’re new to writing. In order for a novel to be well-written, it must have a comprehensive and compelling story arc.