on Fiction University:

Sucks readers in…of course.

A novel is a series of smaller story arcs all leading toward “an exciting conclusion,” whatever that may be. These smaller arcs fit together like puzzle pieces and make up the larger plot and story of the novel.

At its most basic, a story arc is the trajectory that a story takes from its beginning to its end. But a well-crafted story arc is much more than that. It’s the engine that drives a story forward, the structure that gives it shape, and the journey that takes readers on an emotional roller coaster.

Let’s explore the three essential components of a story arc: the beginning, the rising action, and the climax.