How to Create a Healthy Plot Line

One of the greatest works of art is creative writing. We can write about anything and everything. Of course, in order to be sure the writing is of utmost quality, we need to make sure that it has a healthy plot line.

We can do this by creating an outline.

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 that 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."

There are various types of plot lines throughout the literature world. Some are more common than others; however, none are less important than another.

The most common plot line used among writers is the climax pyramid.

It works as follows:

1. Intro: The point where you introduce your characters, the theme, and setting.
2. Rising Action: The events lead to the climax.
3. Climax: The main event which turns the story. It is the single most important part of the writing.
4. Declining Action: The events directly after the climax.
5. 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.

Mark Twain was a master of the plot line. He could twist it, rattle it, throw it in the air, and then still have perfection. He could have five or six climaxes (or at least what I would consider climaxes) throughout his writing. "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" is a great example of this. It's hard to tell where the real climax is, but none of the writing is less important or less exciting than the rest.

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.