What Is Rising Action?

You’ve likely encountered the term “rising action” and wondered how to use it to craft compelling stories. While it may sound complex, rising action is a straightforward yet essential storytelling tool that keeps readers hooked from start to finish.

This article will unpack what rising action is, why it’s crucial for your narrative, and how to use it effectively. We’ll also explore examples from literature to show how rising action shapes memorable stories.

What Is Rising Action?

Rising action refers to the series of events that occur after the inciting incident and build toward the climax. These events escalate conflict, tension, and stakes, drawing readers deeper into the story.

Think of rising action as the steady climb of a rollercoaster. Each twist and turn builds anticipation, leading to an exhilarating peak. Similarly, in storytelling, rising action keeps readers engaged, propelling them toward the climax with increasing intensity.

Examples by Genre:

• Thrillers: A detective uncovering clues that lead closer to a dangerous villain.
• Romance: Two characters navigating obstacles as they fall in love.
• Children’s Stories: A young protagonist overcoming challenges to achieve self-reliance.

No matter the genre, rising action is indispensable. It gives your story momentum and keeps readers invested in your characters and plot.

The Role of Rising Action in Story Structure

To understand rising action, it helps to place it within the broader framework of story structure. A common model is Freytag’s Pyramid, developed by 19th-century playwright Gustav Freytag, which breaks a story into five key elements:

1. Exposition: Introduces the setting, characters, and central conflict.
2. Rising Action: The main portion of the story, where tension and stakes build.
3. Climax: The turning point or moment of highest tension.
4. Falling Action: The immediate aftermath of the climax.
5. Resolution: Ties up loose ends and concludes the story.

Rising action occupies the largest portion of a narrative, beginning after the inciting incident and culminating in the climax. It’s where characters face escalating challenges, external conflicts, and internal struggles, creating a dynamic narrative arc.

Why Rising Action Matters

Without rising action, stories lack momentum. Readers are left with flat, uneventful narratives that fail to build anticipation. By contrast, effective rising action engages readers by steadily increasing tension and stakes.

Key Benefits:

• Keeps Readers Hooked: Escalating events create anticipation, making it hard to put the story down.
• Develops Characters: Challenges reveal your characters’ vulnerabilities and strengths, deepening reader empathy.
• Heightens Stakes: Each obstacle raises the question, “What will happen next?”

Whether it’s physical action, psychological tension, or emotional conflict, rising action adds depth and complexity to your story, ensuring readers stay invested.

Examples of Rising Action in Literature

Studying how rising action unfolds in successful stories can provide valuable insights for your own writing. Here are three examples:

1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The rising action begins when Katniss volunteers to take her sister’s place in the brutal Hunger Games. From there, tension escalates as Katniss prepares for the arena, navigates alliances, and battles deadly competitors. The stakes increase with each challenge—forest fires, dehydration, and confrontations with Career Tributes—culminating in a dramatic showdown.

2. Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

In this post-apocalyptic novel, the rising action begins when the Traveling Symphony arrives in a town controlled by a dangerous Prophet. As they journey toward the Museum of Civilization, members of the troupe go missing, creating suspense. Flashbacks to the Georgia Flu outbreak add layers of tension, leading to a gripping climax.

3. Brooklyn by Colm Tóibín

Eilis Lacey’s rising action unfolds as she adjusts to life in Brooklyn after emigrating from Ireland. Her budding romance with Tony brings joy, but homesickness and family obligations introduce emotional tension. A death in the family forces Eilis to confront her divided loyalties, building to a pivotal decision about her future.

How to Develop Rising Action in Your Story

Creating compelling rising action requires careful planning. Here are strategies to guide you:

1. Balance Internal and External Conflicts

Combine physical obstacles (external conflicts) with emotional struggles (internal conflicts) to give your story depth. For example:

• External: A character must defeat a villain or solve a mystery.
• Internal: They wrestle with self-doubt or moral dilemmas.

Both types of conflict enrich the narrative and keep readers engaged.

2. Raise the Stakes

Each event in the rising action should increase tension or consequences. Ask yourself:

• What happens if the character fails?
• How can I make the situation more challenging?

Piling on roadblocks forces characters to adapt and grow, keeping the reader invested in their journey.

3. Focus on Cause and Effect

Ensure each event logically leads to the next. This creates a cohesive narrative where rising action feels natural rather than forced.

4. Use “What If” Questions

When brainstorming, ask “What if” to explore new possibilities:

• What if the antagonist betrays an ally?
• What if the protagonist’s plan backfires?

This approach helps you generate twists and turns that maintain suspense.

Rising Action as a Tool for Character Development

Rising action isn’t just about plot; it’s also a vehicle for character growth. As characters face challenges, they reveal their values, fears, and strengths, forging a connection with readers.

Tips for Character-Centric Rising Action:

• Show vulnerability: Let characters fail or struggle, making their victories more rewarding.
• Highlight relationships: Use interactions with others to deepen emotional stakes.
• Drive change: Ensure the challenges in the rising action shape your characters’ arcs.

Crafting a Seamless Build-Up

Think of rising action as a rollercoaster you’re designing for readers. Each event is a loop or curve that builds on the last, creating an exhilarating ride. Here are practical tips to make your rising action seamless:

• Outline Your Story: Use Freytag’s Pyramid or another structure to visualize your plot.
• Rearrange as Needed: Experiment with the order of events to find the most impactful progression.
• Layer Subplots: Secondary storylines can add complexity and tension, enriching the main arc.

Let it Rise

Rising action is the heartbeat of your story, driving readers toward an unforgettable climax. By escalating tension, deepening character conflicts, and building stakes, you create a narrative that captures attention and keeps readers engaged until the final page.

Remember, writing is a process. Experiment, revise, and refine your rising action until it becomes the rollercoaster ride your readers won’t want to end.