UNDERSTANDING THE STORY ARC
If one were to diagram a traditional story, the drawing would look a lot like a bell curve, a line gradually rising up, peaking, then falling back down. That would be a visual image of a story arc, which represents the unfolding of events (see
Figure 5.1).
First, the storyteller invites the reader into the universe he or she has created. Characters are introduced. Time and setting are established. Then the story begins traveling up the arc with the introduction of conflict between the protagonist (the hero) and other lead characters on one side and the antagonist on the other. The drama unfolds. Tension begins to build. In the most compelling stories, the author brings readers to the edge of their seats.
Tension ...