A Badly-Needed Explanation On How To Write A (Proper) Story! · 7:46am Mar 24th, 2012
For far too long now, people continue to whine about the way I write. Most of the complaints I get usually involve my portrayal of Rainbow Dash (which I, personally, think is nonsense), and the pace of which I write chapters. Most of you probably already know this, but for those of you who don't and are curious, allow me to explain what a story arc (also called a dramatic arc) is and how all good writers should apply it to their own pieces of work.
STORY ARC:
First of all, what is this, you ask? Well, a story arc is something that you all should've learned back in sixth grade, or possibly even before. It involves five different parts that tend to form a pyramid. These parts are: Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution. If you are serious about writing a good story, you should always try to follow these five parts (preferably in order, although some go backwards). I will explain each part in detail, and then use the wonderful AbsoluteAnonymous and her great-yet-aggravating story, The Games We Play, as an example. Let us begin, shall we?
PART 1: EXPOSITION/INTRODUCTION
Explanation: The exposition, or introduction for you people who like it simple, provides the background information needed to properly understand the story, such as the problem in the beginning of the fiction. It usually sets the stage for what the rest of the story will be about. Naturally, there will be twists and turns and probably involve a lot of stuff that the exposition had nothing to do with. But, be that as it may, it still sets the stage, if you will.
Example: In The Games We Play, the story starts right out with Mare Do Well's introduction, followed closely by Rainbow Dash coming in, getting into trouble, and being saved by the masked mare. Easy to say, this sets the reader up for the rest of the story. It forces the reader to ask many questions, makes the reader curious, and (somewhat) makes the reader excited to find out more. This is rather a successful exposition on AA's part.
PART 2: RISING ACTION
Explanation: During rising action, the basic internal conflict is complicated by the introduction of related secondary conflicts, including various obstacles that frustrate the protagonist's attempt to reach his goal. Secondary conflicts can include adversaries of lesser importance than the story’s antagonist, who may work with the antagonist or separately, by and for themselves or actions unknown. Sometimes, the rising action can take a very long time and can be rather strenuous, including filler chapters or parts.
Example: In The Games We Play, the story uses several chapters involving Rainbow Dash grilling her friends, trying to find clues, and making the readers all believe that the story is actually a mystery. All of this takes place while our protagonist cyan mare tries to find out more about the masked mare stalking her. Mare Do Well, technically the antagonist (I prefer anti-hero, since I honestly had no problem with Mare Do Well's actions) and Pinkie Pie (the secondary protagonist) both work out their own battles during the rising action in this story. Brilliant job executing this by AA.
PART 3: CLIMAX
Explanation: The third part is the climax, or turning point, which marks a change, for the better or the worse, in the protagonist’s affairs. If the story is a comedy, things will have gone badly for the protagonist up to this point; now, the tide, so to speak, will turn, and things will begin to go well for him or her. If the story is a tragedy, the opposite state of affairs will ensue, with things going from good to bad for the protagonist. Simply put, this is where the main part happens or the most dramatic part.
Example: In The Games We Play, it's rather hard to say what the climax is, since I am not AA and I don't know her mind. But, from a reader's standpoint, I'd have to point to the part where Pinkie kisses Rainbow Dash as the climax. Up to this point, Dash had been mostly oblivious, or even completely stupid in ignoring Pinkie's on-comings. So, once this big event happens, it completely changes the story and starts to play a bigger role involving Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Mare Do Well. It was quite a good climax by AA, so once more she did a great job.
PART 4: FALLING ACTION
Explanation: During the falling action, the conflict between the protagonist and the antagonist unravels, with the protagonist winning or losing against the antagonist (or even tying, I suppose). The falling action might contain a moment of final suspense, during which the final outcome of the conflict is in doubt. Basically, this is the second half of the story involving the events leading up to the grand finale. This usually leads to a lot of suspense, if the writer is good and leaves the reader excited for the ending.
Example: In The Games We Play, basically every point following the time when Pinkie finally confesses her feelings is part of the falling action. The silly party mare continues to act so blatant in her feelings, and Mare Do Well starts to fall apart, while at the same time Rainbow Dash herself starts to lose her mind. All of this reaches its "finale" once Rainbow Dash captures Mare Do Well and removes her mask. Again, excellently executed by our dear writer. AA.
PART 5: RESOLUTION/CATASTROPHE/DENOUEMENT
Explanation: The denouement, or resolution for you simple people, comprises events between the falling action and the actual ending scene of the story and thus serves as the conclusion of the story. Conflicts are resolved, creating normality for the characters and a sense of catharsis, or release of tension and anxiety, for the reader. Denouement basically means "the unraveling or untying of the complexities of a plot" (no, not Twilight's plot, even if it is beautiful). Sometimes, stories may have no denouement, because of a quick or surprise ending. Others, on the other hand, have a rather elaborate one.
Example: In The Games We Play, the final two chapters is basically this. The you-know-what hits the fan after Mare Do Well is unmasked, and the following chapter basically answers (I guess) a lot of the questions that the reader was wondering. The final chapter basically summed up the story and brought it to a close (I think, since I'll confess that I refused to actually read it). Even though I, myself, was quite disgusted and angry with how this happened, the denouement was still good. AA did her job perfectly.
REASONING FOR THIS BLOG
Easy. STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT TRIP OF A LIFETIME GOING TOO SLOW AND NOT CHANGING, AND ABOUT RAINBOW DASH BEING A JERK IN TOTAL MAGIC PONY ISLAND AND MAY THE BEST PET WIN...MY HEART? IS THAT CLEAR? GOOD!
I have my reasons, people. I'm following this pyramid, and the rising action is NOT a fast process, okay? You CANNOT rush it, or else you get crap. So, either stop whining, or go away. I'm all for constructive criticism, but not when it's nonsense about how to write my characters. I'm not an idiot; I KNOW what I'm doing. Please stop telling me how to write. Point out spelling, grammar, or other confusion mistakes. But do NOT whine about the characters and how they act and why they act that way. Everything will eventually be explained at the denouement. Thank you for reading this. Hopefully, this will help some of you other writers out there.
Oh, and go read The Games We Play if you haven't already. I personally do not like the ending, but AA is a fabulous author and, while I envy her for getting two stories on that biased Equestria Daily, I still respect her to the fullest and admire her writing.
I approve of this post, and think you summed it up well.
If I write anything, please never read it because it will suck and you will hate it.
Good show.
Professor Piggy
Thank you for posting this, it was a good review.
Now take your time on your story.
I would like to see Josh tortured some more.
LOL, sorry about that.
It's just that when I really get into a story, I start yelling at the characters when they act dumb, nothing against the writing. I'm more invested in this story (Trip of a Lifetime) than most and it feels like I'm following a sports team or something and the score doesn't look good right now but there's always next chapter. Again, nothing directed at your style! It's great stuff! Babble babble! 
Write on.
D'aww! Thanks for that. That was actually really sweet and flattering. When I saw the title of your post, I was afraid it would be you ranting about how the ending makes the fic and how TGWP is a perfect example of someone completely ruining an otherwise decent story. Or something. This was very nice, though--and is obviously a good explanation. Although I confess that I now hold a slight desire to roundhouse kick your face in for not reading the final chapter.
42442 You are probably right, but thank you for your kind words, Professor.
42465 Well, at least SOMEONE does. Thank you for saying that, and don't worry, I'll do just that.
42487 It wasn't directed at you, so don't fret. And...that's actually quite an honor that you hold my story in THAT high of regard. Thanks so very much!
42512 Well, you're very welcome, for the most part. But, don't fret; a lot of people always get that feeling when I'm around them...and I don't even have to do anything to merit it! So...yeah, people just love to want to beat me up. No shocker. But, you are very welcome, cute little Canadian Dash lover.
42525
Thank you for your hurtful ones.
42529 You are very welcome! It's what I do~
42544
I noticed. You do an exceptionally fine job of it!
I salute you, sir. Have a moustache.
Very well said. Nothing gets on my nerves more than a person who tries to pretend that they know everything, when it is in fact painfully obvious that they don't have a goddamn clue what they're talking about.
I don't think your version of Dashie is even that much of a jerk at all, her actions seem perfectly justified to me. Even if you had been misrepresenting her character, that wouldn't really give other people the right to act like whiny bitches - it's your story, and you can write it however you want!
Hey, wait a minute... you just reminded me that I haven't even read the last five chapters of The Games We Play yet! I really have to stop putting that off...
I did say I liked your portrayal of Dash in TMPI. The pros list on my pros-and-cons of her was longer.
Also... I've been trying to bring myself to write something, anything, for the last few weeks, but I had no idea how to go about it properly, or even where to start. I may or may not have just copied your tirade into Notepad under the name "how_to_write_worth_a_damn" to fall back on in the future. I'm not sure how much advice I'll need to amass before I get anything done, but each little bit is helping. I'll keep this handy for if what I churn out ends up being a multi-chapter story rather than a one-shot, though I think it'll even work for any one-shots.
......
Okay, no offense, as I love all of your stories and find them to be fantastically written, but this blog post reeks with condescending language. Sir, you have lost a small bit of respect with me for this. If it was not; however, your goal to be condescending, then feel free to set the record straight.
Very well-put and well-said, I have to say!
I'm trying to do the same with my story as well. This is a very good guide on making a decent story. I have to say kudos!
I also can't wait to see what happened next in TMPI... I know it's gonna be fantastic!!!
Alright, I won't whine. I just wanted to get a little spoiler - is it all going to be like "Going to X - feeling a strange feeling and butterflies in stomach, going out to another pony, repeat" in "Trip of a lifetime"? I'm at "Fluttershy&Angel" chapter and I'd like to know if there's going to be a plot
or everything going perfectly linear. This was not supposed to be an insult.
Another question - although you probably answered it before, is the Trip a self-insert?
Enough of questions. I wanted to tell you that your story is well-written and I'm looking forward to read the rest of your works! And albeit Trip is in my opinion linear a little, I still enjoy reading it.
I wanted to thank you for that post as well, I'll get it to use when I'll be super-duper bored. MechWarrior and MLP crossover!
Huh.
I didn't know AA was a girl.
The more you know.
42712 Uh...I don't really see what you mean. How was I being condescending in any way? This is just the way I talk, as I have my entire life. All I explained was how to properly write a story using the five basic arcs that each story needs. Really, everyone should've learned this. The only reason I explained it in a way that you might've taken offense to is because I'm sick and tired of people whining to me about how to write characters, so if I was a little harsh, I'm not sorry for it. Giving constructive criticism and simply saying that you do not like the story is just fine; that's your right. But, when people start to rant about how the story isn't going how they expected or wanted or like, that's just rude. So, I wasn't trying to sound like a jerk; I was trying to make a point while at the same time give a little lesson, just in case no one knew about the five main arcs of a story. That's all.
43288
4.bp.blogspot.com/_g7IQUpT7Nr8/THASnIIlVZI/AAAAAAAABt0/thadY9GO0ro/s400/tmyk.gif
I approve of this post. And your portrayal of RD.
43615 Okay, but if they don't like your story, so be it. If they don't understand story arc, so be it. If they don't like the portrayal of a character, again, so be it. Write for your fans, but don't disregard all of your critics. The majority of people haven't even read books as long as some of the stories on this site, yours included.
Personally, I find "Trip of a Lifetime" to be fantastic- but the time to write the chapters (Necessary, I might add) makes it SEEM like it's taking longer. I made a point of re-reading all the chapters before I said anything about the length up to this point (I was bored, don't judge me) and the time you have taken is appropriate. But.. I can see why people here are feeling like it is taking to long.
(Edit: I know I'm a much less experienced writer than you- please don't take any of this stuff the wrong way)
Greetings, Mr. Tailslover13. I'm here to lay down some phat knowledge for the benefit of everyone here, dig?
"I'm all for constructive criticism, but not when it's nonsense about how to write my characters. I'm not an idiot; I KNOW what I'm doing. Please stop telling me how to write. Point out spelling, grammar, or other confusion mistakes. But do NOT whine about the characters and how they act and why they act that way."
You seem to misunderstand what constructive criticism is. Pointing out spelling and grammar errors is not constructive criticism—it's proofreading. Constructive criticism is whining about how characters act and why they act that way. Characters who are the author's puppets or who do not act and speak according to their personalities are the bane of fiction.
When you're writing fanfiction, people are going expect you to make the characters you use act and speak like themselves because otherwise what's the point? That isn't to say you can't change the characters at all from the screen to the page, but you need to do so in way that makes sense and is justifiable. If you don't want to use characters as they are given to you then you should reconsider writing fanfiction.
If people are complaining about something, maybe you should give their thoughts some consideration rather than dismissing them outright and acting like you're Mr. Fancypants Writer who knows oh-so-much better than them. It doesn't reflect well on you.
"Everything will eventually be explained at the denouement."
You can use as many big words and fancy-sounding lectures on story structure as you like, but in the end this will still sound the same as the hack author's excuse that "it will be explained later".
"I typically write very well, not to brag; if I had to give myself a grade on a scale of 1-10 with how good my stories are, I'd give myself an 8 or a 9."
I yet to meet any good writers who claim to be good writers. I have, however, met plenty of bad ones who make these claims. In a way, I pity you, for how can you possibly improve when you already think so highly of your skill? I'll just say that no, you are not as good as you think you are and there is much room for improvement (as there is for all writers and all creative people), but have fun stagnating.
I don't want to presume to tell you what to do, but you cannot have your cake and eat it. If you want to ignore constructive criticism then that's fine and you should write what you want, but then you do not get to call yourself a good writer and act like you're better than everyone who offers the smallest evidence otherwise.
This was very helpful knowledge. I appreciate you posting this particular blog. Even better you took the time to 'trim the fat' for us simple people.
As for the pace of the story; All good things take time.
At least I think......
Thanks for the information!
~8chill
46379
This one speaks truth. Oh so much truth. No offense intended, Tails, but you could do with letting some air out of your ego balloon if you want to improve as a writer.