Film, theater and fiction stories all have dramatic arc. Sometimes referred to as rising and falling action, the dramatic arc is visually represented by a rainbow or pyramid type of shape: ∩. The action starts at one side of the arc. Tension rises to the top via a series of obstacles the main character faces and overcomes. At the top of the arc is the climax where the main character's final struggle occurs. This results in either a happy or unhappy outcome. The falling action, at the far side of the arc, is where loose ends are tied up and the story ends. The dramatic arc is the main story organization technique.
Dramatic arc is the core element of story structure. The three- and five-act dramatic structures from classical literature are elaborations of the dramatic arc. The five-act structure includes these elements in the following order: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and denouement. Exposition provides background information. The rising action sees the main character facing a series of obstacles. The climax is the high point of the story, or the moment when the main character will resolve the main dramatic question in the story and bring it to a happy or unhappy conclusion. The falling action after the climax sees loose ends tied up and brings the reader or audience to the end of the piece. The denouement serves as a kind of conclusion and summary.
The three-act structure is an elaboration of the dramatic arc. It mimics the five-act structure, but does not include exposition or denouement. It is comprised simply of rising action, climax and falling action. Information traditionally contained in the exposition part of the five-act structure is woven organically into the "first act" of the rising action. The falling action should tie up all the loose ends.
Outlines provide a useful technique for organizing thoughts on stories as well as other written projects. The format is flexible. Start at the top of a page with a bullet point or a number one then list the elements of your story in the order in which you'd like them to happen. Keep sentences short so that you can see the story at a glance and move items around as necessary. Keep the outline at hand as you write the story; if you think elements you originally planned are not working well in that order, update your outline in keeping with changes in your story. This will help you stay organized and make sure all your story elements maintain a sensible arrangement.
Graphic story organizers provide an alternative to the outline for those who prefer dealing with concepts visually. Make your own or download a template from the Internet. Use them to detail the main elements of your story, names of main characters, theme and events in boxes or circles laid out on a page. Like a brain map, organizers come in different shapes and sizes. They can include as many or as few elements of the story as you wish. Consider using pencil when filling in elements so you can erase and update content as ideas about your story develop.