Basic elements of Plot Writing
Plot is the backbone of your story, the sequence of events that moves everything forward. It’s what keeps readers turning pages and gives your characters purpose. In this section, we’ll look at the key elements that make a plot work, so you can build one that feels complete, engaging, and satisfying.
What makes a good plot?
Before we dive into putting your plot together, let’s take a look at what actually makes up a plot. This section is all about understanding the main building blocks that every story shares. Once you know what each part does and how they connect, you’ll be ready to use them to build your own story in the next section.
Every story, whether it’s a romance, a thriller, or a sweeping fantasy, follows a natural rhythm. That rhythm is made up of seven key parts: exposition, inciting incident, rising action, low point, climax, falling action, and resolution. Together, these create the emotional journey that takes a reader from “once upon a time” to “the end.”
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Exposition
Exposition is a fancy word for introduction. This is where your story begins, where you introduce the reader to your main characters, the world they live in, and what their normal life looks like before anything big happens.
Think of exposition as the moment your reader steps into a room and looks around. They are getting their bearings, meeting the people, noticing the scenery, and trying to figure out what kind of story this is going to be. It is not about dumping a pile of background information all at once, but about sprinkling in just enough detail to make the world feel alive and the characters interesting.
A good exposition sets the tone and mood. It helps the reader understand who the story is about, where it takes place, and what is at stake before the real adventure begins.
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Inciting Incident
This is the spark that lights the fire. The inciting incident is the event that shakes up your character’s world and pushes them into action. It is the “something happens” moment that changes everything.
It might be a letter arriving out of the blue, a secret revealed, a chance meeting, or a disaster that turns life upside down. Whatever form it takes, this is the point where your story truly begins. The protagonist now has a goal, a purpose, or a problem that needs solving.
Without an inciting incident, your story has no reason to move forward. It is the kick that sets everything in motion and gives your reader a reason to keep turning the pages.
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Rising Action
The rising action is where things start to heat up. This is the middle section of your story, filled with challenges, surprises, and discoveries. It is made up of a series of events that build tension, deepen conflict, and test your characters.
Every scene in the rising action should push your characters closer to their goal or further away from it. This is where they grow, fail, and make mistakes. It is where new obstacles appear, secrets are uncovered, and relationships change.
The rising action is what keeps readers hooked. It gives the story energy and movement. You can think of it like climbing a mountain: each step brings more effort, more risk, and a clearer view of what lies ahead.
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Low Point
The low point, sometimes called the dark moment, is when everything seems lost. Your character faces their biggest setback, their greatest fear, or their deepest doubt. It is the point where they might feel like giving up.
This moment matters because it makes the victory later mean something. Without the struggle, there is no satisfaction. The low point is often emotional, not just physical. It tests your character’s belief in themselves or forces them to face the truth they have been avoiding.
Think of it as the “it cannot get any worse” moment that makes your reader wonder how on earth your character will recover.
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Climax
The climax is the peak of the story, the moment everything has been building toward. This is where your main conflict reaches its most intense point and the character must make a choice that changes everything.
It is usually dramatic, emotional, and decisive. Maybe it is a final showdown, a confession, a revelation, or a major turning point that forces your protagonist to act. The climax should feel earned, not accidental. It is the payoff for all the tension you have been building through the rising action.
A good climax makes the reader’s heart race and their emotions rise. It is the scene they will remember long after they have finished the book.
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Falling Action
The falling action comes after the big moment. The conflict has peaked, and now we see the results. This is where the story starts to settle as characters deal with the aftermath of the climax.
The falling action is about resolution in progress, showing how choices made at the climax play out. Maybe your character reconciles with someone, rebuilds what was lost, or comes to terms with what happened.
This section gives the reader space to breathe. It ties up smaller threads, answers lingering questions, and prepares them for the story’s ending.
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Resolution
The resolution is the final piece of the puzzle. This is where you wrap up the story, tie off loose ends, and deliver emotional closure. The protagonist has either achieved their goal or learned to live with the outcome.
Not every resolution needs to be happy, but it should feel complete. The reader should be able to close the book and think, “Yes, that is how it had to end.” The resolution is your last chance to leave an impression, to give meaning to everything that came before and send your reader away satisfied.
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Each of these elements builds on the one before it, creating a sense of progression and purpose. Once you understand how they fit together, you can start to build your own plot with confidence. You will know when to raise tension, when to slow down, and when to deliver the emotional punch that makes readers remember your story.
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Summary: Basic Plot Elements
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Every story follows a natural rhythm made up of seven key elements
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Exposition: introduces your characters, world, and current situation
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Inciting Incident: disrupts normal life and sets the story in motion
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Rising Action: builds tension through challenges, discoveries, and conflict
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Low Point: shows the moment when everything feels lost or hopeless
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Climax: the peak of the story where conflict and emotion reach their highest point
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Falling Action: reveals the consequences of the climax and begins to settle the story
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Resolution: ties up loose ends and gives readers a satisfying sense of closure
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Understanding these elements prepares you to build a strong, well-paced plot
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A clear grasp of structure helps you deliver emotional depth and keep readers turning pages
