Post: 5 elements of a great plot

plot

One thing is certain if you are a fiction writer. Failing to develop your plot will not only lose readers for a particular story, it will also possibly make avid readers shy away from your works if they see lack of plot development as a habit in your writing. Learning to develop a great plot takes practice. 

Understanding the elements that create high quality in a plot is the best place to start. After all, if you don’t know this much, then how will you determine whether your plot has the elements it needs to captivate a reader’s attention? 

Start filling readers in on the plot at the beginning of a story

When you write the beginning of a story in such a way as to introduce readers to your main characters, to set the scene, and to give a hint of certain themes or conflicts to come, this is known as the ”exposition” phase of a plot. It is a key factor in plot development because a beginning that lacks interest might compel a reader to put the book down without going any further. 

All good plots have rising action

The second element of plot development is to create a rise in action. You can do this through a specific incident in your storyline or by incorporating a series of events that create tension among the characters or build suspense or rising interest. In a good story, action will continue to rise until the next phase of plot development, which is the climax.

Use a climactic point to show readers how conflict will be resolved

While building up your readers’ interest through a rise in action is an element of a good plot, you can’t keep stringing them along forever. At some point, the time must come for your protagonist and antagonist to face off. The unresolved issues in your storyline must come to a head. This is known as the climax.

Falling action follows a climax

Once the hero in your story takes charge of the situation, your readers will need an emotional break. They have to see the light at the end of the tunnel and start heading in that direction. This is known the falling action in the plot. 

The final element of a good plot is the resolution

As you bring your story to an end, you need to tie up all the loose ends. Most importantly, your readers should feel satisfied. You have brought them on a journey and into a world of make-believe. As they close the back cover after the final chapter, your goal as a writer is for them to be glad they read your book and to want to read more of your writing. 

Keep these five elements in mind, and you will increase your skills in plot development.