Creating a Healthy Plot Line
One of the most important aspects of creative writing is the outline. Writing down your plot in a timeline, your characters attributes, and having important tidbits you want to include in the story is one of the ways to go about this.
Nonetheless, making a story fit into a nice cozy shape which is easy to read and follow is something many beginning writers have a hard time accomplishing. However, once they discover it, they never lose it. This is known as a "plot line."
The most common plot line used among writers is the climax pyramid.
It works as follows:
- Intro: The point where you introduce your characters, the theme, and setting.
- Rising Action: The events lead to the climax.
- Climax: The main event which turns the story. It is the single most important part of the writing.
- Declining Action: The events directly after the climax.
- Resolution: How the story ends.
The point of writing in the pyramid climax is to gain the attention of the reader, then hit them with the climax, and finally come to a slow ending as the resolution takes place. Of course, this doesn't mean the ending is unexciting. It simply means the climax (the turning point, most exciting, and most intense part of the story) happens in the middle.
Nonetheless, many authors also experiment with other formats of plot lines. Nowadays, two or more interweaving plots, two climaxes, or even ending with the high point occur. Simply because the most popular way is the easiest to write doesn't mean you shouldn't experiment with others.
In conclusion, experimenting with plot lines is ideal for becoming a better writer. Practice makes perfect, and that's not just something we tell athletes. It is important to continue trying no matter the outcome.