What is the rising action of a story and how to write it ?

Once you’ve established the inciting incident in your story, the next step is to build momentum. This period of mounting tension and development is known as the rising action. Understanding how to craft a compelling rising action is essential for keeping readers hooked and invested in your protagonist’s journey.

What Is the Definition of Rising Action in a Story?

The rising action is the series of events in a story that lead from the inciting incident to the climax. It’s where the protagonist encounters obstacles, deepens relationships, makes decisions, and often suffers setbacks. During the rising action, the stakes are raised, conflicts are intensified, and suspense builds.

In other words, the rising action is the bulk of your story—it’s where most of the narrative happens. Through this phase, you are steadily tightening the screws of conflict and tension, making the reader eager to see how everything will be resolved.

What Is an Example of a Rising Action?

A well-known example of rising action occurs in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. After Frodo receives the One Ring (the inciting incident), the rising action consists of his journey from the Shire to Rivendell, and eventually to Mordor. Along the way, he faces numerous obstacles: Black Riders, betrayal, inner doubts, and the growing burden of the Ring itself.

Every challenge Frodo encounters adds layers of tension, danger, and character development, pushing the story forward toward its inevitable climax—his arrival at Mount Doom.

Where Should You Put the Rising Action in Your Story?

The rising action should occur after the inciting incident and make up the majority of your story. In a typical three-act structure, the rising action encompasses most of the second act.

It is essential to remember that, unlike the hook, rising action is not a single event but a series of interconnected scenes and conflicts. Each scene should build upon the previous one, gradually increasing the tension and pushing the protagonist toward the climax.

How Can You Create Conflict in the Rising Action?

Conflict is the backbone of a compelling rising action. Without conflict, there is no growth, struggle, or suspense. Here are several ways to create conflict during the rising action:

• Introduce Antagonists: Reveal the primary antagonist’s intentions and have them clash with the protagonist’s goals.

• Raise the Stakes: Make the consequences of failure increasingly severe, whether on a personal, emotional, or global scale.

• Inner Conflict: Allow the protagonist to wrestle with doubts, fears, or ethical dilemmas that complicate their journey.

• Relationship Struggles: Introduce friction between allies, romantic partners, or mentors.

• Unforeseen Obstacles: Throw unexpected challenges or plot twists into the protagonist’s path.

The more complex and layered the conflict, the more engaging your rising action will be.

How Long Should the Rising Action Be?

The length of the rising action can vary depending on your story’s genre, pacing, and desired impact. However, in most cases, it constitutes around 60-70% of the narrative.

In a standard novel, the rising action often spans hundreds of pages, filled with smaller conflicts, revelations, and character development moments. In short stories or novellas, the rising action will be much shorter but still substantial enough to build toward a meaningful climax.

What Comes After the Rising Action?

The rising action culminates in the climax, which is the most intense, dramatic, or revealing moment in your story. It’s the point where all the conflict, tension, and stakes reach a peak, forcing the protagonist to face their greatest challenge.

After the climax, the story moves into the falling action and eventually the resolution, where loose ends are tied up and the consequences of the protagonist’s actions are revealed.

How to Write a Great Rising Action?

Crafting a powerful rising action involves several key elements:

1. Keep Raising the Stakes: Continuously increase the pressure on your protagonist. Every new challenge should feel more significant than the last.

2. Develop Characters: Use the rising action to explore your characters’ motivations, flaws, strengths, and relationships.

3. Build Suspense: Leave questions unanswered, reveal new mysteries, and foreshadow future conflicts. That will help you avoid boring scenes.

4. Pace Your Story Well: Balance action scenes with moments of introspection and emotional development. Too much relentless conflict can overwhelm the reader.

5. Create Emotional Investment: Make the reader care about the protagonist’s journey by highlighting their personal struggles and desires.

The rising action is where your story earns its emotional weight. By crafting this section with care, you ensure that the climax will be satisfying and powerful.