Third Article in the Series:
Ready, Sit, Go

This is the third article of a 9-part program, Ready Sit Go. You can read the first two articles about getting ready to write in the past ezines.

The arc of writing is a description of a structure that contains movement, one segment at a time until the whole arc is visible. As you think about getting ready to write, imagine an arc and see if you can fill in the segments with your storyline to complete a whole structure.

Here is an idea of how an arc could be written:

1. The first segment of the arc would be the setup scene, something ordinary happening to people.
2. Another segment could describe an inciting incident, something that will lead to complications for your characters.
3. The next segments are turning points in the escalating conflict(s). Characters may have their own conflicts that eventually turn into a collision of conflicts between characters.
4. Following the conflicts is the climax of the story. The fallout leads to the beginning of a resolution.
5. The last segments work out the resolutions of the story for your characters. Perhaps you will also want to write an epilogue, as well.

Too much time spent in one segment bogs your story down and readers want to hurry up and get to “the good part.”

See if you can imagine your story as a play with scenes. How long would you be interested in watching scene 1? Draw your readers in and then move on to the next segment/scene until you have completed the arc of your story.

Applause!