How to plan story arcs?

[MR_Stranger]

I can write good or bad but I just go with the flow. So my novel doesn’t get any story arc, thus to tension for readers to look forward to how things escalate.
Any tips how I can create story arcs?

 

[Omarfaruq]

I also go with the flow; I don’t make arcs.

 

[L1aei]

I can write good or bad but I just go with the flow. So my novel doesn’t get any story arc, thus to tension for readers to look forward to how things escalate.
Any tips how I can create story arcs?

What's your definition of a story arc?

 

[Hans.Trondheim]

I can write good or bad but I just go with the flow. So my novel doesn’t get any story arc, thus to tension for readers to look forward to how things escalate.
Any tips how I can create story arcs?

1) I plan the entire story first.
2) Then, I plan the arcs using the overall story plotpoints as my "anchor".

If you want, I can give you a copy of how I do things.

 

[Eldoria]

I can write good or bad but I just go with the flow. So my novel doesn’t get any story arc, thus to tension for readers to look forward to how things escalate.
Any tips how I can create story arcs?

Think about the problem formulation that forms the core of the main conflict throughout the arc. You'll notice that works as large as sagas have thematic divisions of arcs.

Arcs in One Piece are structured around adventures on specific islands or countries. Arcs in Naruto are structured around antagonists who represent specific conflicts.

Think about the central problem you will convey throughout the arc, from beginning to resolution.

 

[L1aei]

Think about the problem formulation that forms the core of the main conflict throughout the arc. You'll notice that works as large as sagas have thematic divisions of arcs.

Arcs in One Piece are structured around adventures on specific islands or countries. Arcs in Naruto are structured around antagonists who represent specific conflicts.

Think about the central problem you will convey throughout the arc, from beginning to resolution.

This is good. If you haven't seen those series, then let's touch on an older franchise like... okay, Star Wars? First arc: getting the fuck out of Tatooine. There's One Piece's island hopping right there.

 

[Icemasters652]

What I do is to outline the chapters. So in my word document I have like Chapter 1: Death and Rebirth 2: Stepmother etc, I basically have things outlined up until chapter 300. I only have the title headings and nothing else and I just write on the top of my head what should happen on the chapter based on title, a lot of times I had chapters in between for example

Chapter 6: Fighting A Pack Of Wolves
Chapter 7: Killing A Pack Of Wolves

(ORIGINAL OUTLINE)

Chapter 6: Fighting A Pack Of Wolves (1)
Chapter 7: Fighting A Pack Of Wolves (2)
Chapter 8: Killing A Pack Of Wolves

(NEW OUTLINE)

A lot of times I have an outline of like 50 chapters, but I have so much ideas that it becomes like 100 very quickly, but as long as I have a grasp on where the story is going, I'm good. It's important to be able to close out arcs. I closed mine out at like chapter 130 when it was supposed to be around 100ish only.

Anyways that's how I do it at least, hope that helps :)

 

[ChrisLensman]

It helps if you know the story's conclusion beforehand. What is your MC trying to accomplish? Once you know that you can start asking the follow-up questions: How are they getting there? What has to happen beforehand?
Once you have those questions answered you will know which arcs your story needs to have. If your writing groove eventually forces you to tack on extra arcs later that's fine but you need that basic framework.
And once you have your arcs split up you can start planning them in detail. I like to use a physical notebook where I can write down bullet points, then order them in a way that serves the story.

 

[jayveh32]

I can write good or bad but I just go with the flow. So my novel doesn’t get any story arc, thus to tension for readers to look forward to how things escalate.
Any tips how I can create story arcs?

plan ahead ... and sometimes planning ahead ,,, any tips for translation... cause i do my draft in defferent language and when i translate it .. its so not me.. hahahah

 

[laccoff_mawning]

Stories have a fractal structure. So while you are writing one story, that story is composed of smaller stories called arcs, and those arcs are composed of even smaller stories.

You plan an arc just like you do a chapter, or an entire story, but on the middle scales instead of the smallest or biggest scale.

 

[Juia_Darkcrest]

I think @Hans.Trondheim had a decent explanation kicking around somewhere on the forum if you needed to see an example.

Or look up 'the hero's journey' to see a tried and true method of crafting a story.

What Is the Hero’s Journey? Steps, Archetype & 12 Stages Explained

 

[Grizzly18]

Write out your plot line in bulleted points try to clump them together into logical groups.

 

[Jerynboe]

I get the impression you are a pantser based on your description so I’ll tell you what I do.
Have short term goals and work towards them while you are working on the current task at hand. As you discover what needs to happen next in this chapter, keep in mind what you want to have happen in 5 chapters or 15 chapters or 100 chapters and when you see an opportunity while your characters are reacting to the current situation you pounce on it.

If you have a pairing that are going to fall in love, give them opportunities to interact when you have the chance.

If you have a villain coming up, figure out how to introduce them/hint at them/bring up the concept of them a little early.

If you have a character discovering what it means to be their own person, make them suffer in a thematically appropriate way and have them give a little push back.

If you have a character who is going to confront their abuser later, have them get a solid W in some unrelated field shortly beforehand so they can build up their confidence.

Basically, the key to a satisfying arc (imo) is to not have it all happen at once. Setup, then payoff. It really helps if you actually have a clear plan, which is why most professionals have outlines even if they deviate from them, but learning how to be opportunistic helps too.

 

[MR_Stranger]

It helps if you know the story's conclusion beforehand. What is your MC trying to accomplish? Once you know that you can start asking the follow-up questions: How are they getting there? What has to happen beforehand?
Once you have those questions answered you will know which arcs your story needs to have. If your writing groove eventually forces you to tack on extra arcs later that's fine but you need that basic framework.
And once you have your arcs split up you can start planning them in detail. I like to use a physical notebook where I can write down bullet points, then order them in a way that serves the story.

I do have vague idea of ending but it’s too far from starting point. So I'm kinda lost I guess.
I did made a chart that was supposed to conclude the story in around 100 chapters. But as I got used to writing, I realized the story-flow planning was not good. I'm now sitting and doing nothing ?

I get the impression you are a pantser based on your description so I’ll tell you what I do.
Have short term goals and work towards them while you are working on the current task at hand. As you discover what needs to happen next in this chapter, keep in mind what you want to have happen in 5 chapters or 15 chapters or 100 chapters and when you see an opportunity while your characters are reacting to the current situation you pounce on it.

If you have a pairing that are going to fall in love, give them opportunities to interact when you have the chance.

If you have a villain coming up, figure out how to introduce them/hint at them/bring up the concept of them a little early.

If you have a character discovering what it means to be their own person, make them suffer in a thematically appropriate way and have them give a little push back.

If you have a character who is going to confront their abuser later, have them get a solid W in some unrelated field shortly beforehand so they can build up their confidence.

Basically, the key to a satisfying arc (imo) is to not have it all happen at once. Setup, then payoff. It really helps if you actually have a clear plan, which is why most professionals have outlines even if they deviate from them, but learning how to be opportunistic helps too.

I was so enthusiastic that my world building draft is equal to a few chapters. But I'm not experienced enough to put even a quarter of them to use ?

 

[Feudyn]

Plan it in your head (ofc), but what works for me is to take out a notepad and put down the title (or placeholder titles) for your arcs. Maybe jot down some bullet points underneath it if there are certain things that you want to happen in said arc.
Then you draw lines to the next arc to visually show how they connect.
Eventually you'll find certain techniques or shortcuts that help you visualise or plan your arcs better.

As always, take what I just said with a grain of salt. There'll always be ways that work or not work for you. :)

 

[Juia_Darkcrest]

I was so enthusiastic that my world building draft is equal to a few chapters. But I'm not experienced enough to put even a quarter of them to use ?

Well, here is one way to look at it.

You have a start and an end state of your book.

He is the third son of an impoverished baron

He will be the hero who slays the demon king


Break that up into some larger points of how your MC gets there, not necessarily in this order or only a single time


1 He needs a reason to leave his home

2 He needs training

3 He needs a weapon

4 He needs a party

5 He needs to protect people to show he is indeed a hero


Then break these up and form the basis of your story


The town is ransacked by the demon king's army, driving him out in nothing but his nightclothes and a small knife

He vows vengeance for his family and his people

He goes to petition the king to do something about it

gets turned away

Gets captured by bandits and is to be sold into slavery

Is rescued by an old man who beats the ever living tar out of the bandits,

Asks to train under the man

long training montage, meets another disciple who will end up being a party member

They get attacked by demons again, and the old man sacrifices himself so they can escape.

They noticed they couldn't hurt one of the demons with their current weapons


That is point one and point two accomplished, and gaining point four. Also leads to the next step of point three


Heads to a larger town to find a blacksmith, whom they end up rescuing from some gangs.

Blacksmith says they need to find X mineral for him to be able to forge X weapon that is effective against demons

Sends his child/apprentice with the MC to help locate said Mineral

accosted by monsters, unable to get mineral X because they are too strong

Finds a mercenary/adventurer's guild to hire help, and ends up doing a few jobs themselves to acquire the help

End up rescuing a powerful adventurer who had been captured. They agree to help fight the monsters

Gain the minerals

Weapon created


This will give you points in four and five, allowing you to acquire your three


Hears about the nearby town about to come under assault from the demons; he rushes there.

Saves the town, hears about captives, and mounts a rescue operation

follows the demon army back towards their territory, sneaks into the camp

Rescues captives, but is caught while covering their escape.

Held in captivity for some time, trying to learn what you could from your jailers, over hearing Critical information at some point

Rescued by the adventurers from that town, you helped


This will give you a lot more credibility for point five and for the information you gain to reach your end state.


Reunited with your party, heroes welcome for saving those people.

King wants to meet with you

awarded demon slaying weapon X

You and your party march with the kingdom against the demon army

You slip behind their lines, intent on assassinating their leader


From here, you can finish your story, or set yourself up for a failed attempt, or possibly convert some enemies to your side instead and continue your story in a slightly different direction.

This isn't just for fantasy; you can adapt it for any writing, really. Just keep breaking it down into a storyboard to map your plot points. Don't go too deep, or else you might write yourself into a hole.

 

[DismaiNaim]

What works for me is to write a whole lot of brain vomit, and decide from there what needs to be set up, what to develop, and what to throw away.

 

[MR_Stranger]

Well, here is one way to look at it.

You have a start and an end state of your book.

He is the third son of an impoverished baron

He will be the hero who slays the demon king


Break that up into some larger points of how your MC gets there, not necessarily in this order or only a single time


1 He needs a reason to leave his home

2 He needs training

3 He needs a weapon

4 He needs a party

5 He needs to protect people to show he is indeed a hero


Then break these up and form the basis of your story


The town is ransacked by the demon king's army, driving him out in nothing but his nightclothes and a small knife

He vows vengeance for his family and his people

He goes to petition the king to do something about it

gets turned away

Gets captured by bandits and is to be sold into slavery

Is rescued by an old man who beats the ever living tar out of the bandits,

Asks to train under the man

long training montage, meets another disciple who will end up being a party member

They get attacked by demons again, and the old man sacrifices himself so they can escape.

They noticed they couldn't hurt one of the demons with their current weapons


That is point one and point two accomplished, and gaining point four. Also leads to the next step of point three


Heads to a larger town to find a blacksmith, whom they end up rescuing from some gangs.

Blacksmith says they need to find X mineral for him to be able to forge X weapon that is effective against demons

Sends his child/apprentice with the MC to help locate said Mineral

accosted by monsters, unable to get mineral X because they are too strong

Finds a mercenary/adventurer's guild to hire help, and ends up doing a few jobs themselves to acquire the help

End up rescuing a powerful adventurer who had been captured. They agree to help fight the monsters

Gain the minerals

Weapon created


This will give you points in four and five, allowing you to acquire your three


Hears about the nearby town about to come under assault from the demons; he rushes there.

Saves the town, hears about captives, and mounts a rescue operation

follows the demon army back towards their territory, sneaks into the camp

Rescues captives, but is caught while covering their escape.

Held in captivity for some time, trying to learn what you could from your jailers, over hearing Critical information at some point

Rescued by the adventurers from that town, you helped


This will give you a lot more credibility for point five and for the information you gain to reach your end state.


Reunited with your party, heroes welcome for saving those people.

King wants to meet with you

awarded demon slaying weapon X

You and your party march with the kingdom against the demon army

You slip behind their lines, intent on assassinating their leader


From here, you can finish your story, or set yourself up for a failed attempt, or possibly convert some enemies to your side instead and continue your story in a slightly different direction.

This isn't just for fantasy; you can adapt it for any writing, really. Just keep breaking it down into a storyboard to map your plot points. Don't go too deep, or else you might write yourself into a hole.

Thank you for taking time to write such a realistic example. ?

 

[ArumiCucaTeeth]

I can write good or bad but I just go with the flow. So my novel doesn’t get any story arc, thus to tension for readers to look forward to how things escalate.
Any tips how I can create story arcs?

I think, at least in the case of a good anime, what really ties an arc together is it's atmosphere. Even when if the arc is taking place over the course of a journey, or bouncing around between multiple settings that have already been introduced, every really good arc has it's own sense of 'place'. Like it leaves you feeling homesick for that portion of the story after you've moved past it, if that makes sense.


Plotting arcs always feels to me like I'm paying myself up front for work I haven't done yet. I sort of have to force myself to write on the fly so I don't spoil the ending for myself. But then of course, when you're doing the actual writing you start having to look over every detail, and working out all those little kinks can really force you off course from where you were originally trying to go.