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If you’re a beginning author, you’ve probably heard the term – story arc, but do you know what it means and how to use it to craft your fiction? Let’s take a look at the definition of a story arc, the types of story arcs and how they fit into your fiction.

What is a story arc?

 

A story arc is the narrative structure and progression of a story, outlining the journey of the protagonist from the beginning page to the last page and final conclusion. It maps out the key events and turning points that shape the plot and character development. Understanding and effectively implementing a story arc can enhance the emotional impact and coherence of your story, while providing you with specific plot points.

 

Why is a story arc important?

A well-constructed story arc provides structure and direction to the narrative. It helps maintain pacing, keeps the audience engaged and ensures that the story progresses in a logical order. By following a clear arc, writers can create a compelling and emotionally resonant experience for their readers. In fact, if you plan on your novel following a basic story arc, you can use the components to form a very basic outline.

What are the components of a story arc?

There are six basic components of a story arc. They include the initial exposition, the incident that gets the story moving, rising action, which is the intensification of that incident, the climax, the falling action, where issues start getting resolved, and the resolution.

1. Exposition

The exposition introduces the setting, characters, and basic situation. It provides the background information necessary to understand the story and sets the stage for the main events. This is where you establish the protagonist's world and the initial status quo.

2. Inciting Incident

The inciting incident is the event that disrupts the protagonist's normal life and sets the main plot in motion. It introduces the central conflict and propels the protagonist into the story's main action.

3. Rising Action 

During the rising action, the story builds tension and develops the central conflict. The protagonist faces various challenges and obstacles, each one increasing in intensity. This section deepens character relationships and explores subplots, leading to heightened stakes.

4. Climax

The climax is the story's turning point and the moment of greatest tension. It is the peak of the conflict, where the protagonist faces their biggest challenge or confronts the antagonist. The outcome of the climax determines the direction of the story's resolution.

5. Falling Action

Following the climax, the falling action shows the consequences of the protagonist's actions and decisions. The tension begins to decrease as the story moves towards its conclusion. Loose ends are tied up, and subplots are resolved.

6. Resolution

The resolution, or denouement, concludes the story. It reveals the final outcome for the protagonist and other key characters. The resolution provides closure, showing how the characters and their world have changed as a result of the story's events.

What are the types of story arcs?

If you’re unfamiliar with types of story arcs, it’s likely that you’ve never stopped to contemplate the subsubsub genres. You can often view these in the romance genre at the bottom of the menu of choices. These are sections, like alpha males, billionaires, secret babies, workplace and second chances. All of those themes could also be considered a type of story arc. With that being said, here are a few common types of story arcs.

  • The Hero’s Journey - A classic arc where the protagonist goes on an adventure, faces and overcomes a crisis, and returns transformed.
  • Rags to Riches - The protagonist starts in a lowly state and rises to success or prosperity.
  • Tragedy - The protagonist experiences a downfall, often due to a fatal flaw or unavoidable circumstances.
  • Comedy - The protagonist faces obstacles but ultimately achieves a happy or satisfying resolution, often with a focus on humorous situations.

With all this newfound information about story arcs, you’re now armed with critical story components that can help you craft an excellent work of fiction. It’s obviously time to load up the ole word processor and get to typing!