Is there a specific order a plot must flow in fiction?

 The short answer to this question is yes, but also no. For your story to flow traditionally and entertain your reader it should generally follow the traditional method that is known as the Freytag Pyramid. It may sound rigid, but this flow of parts is used in nearly every book, movie, and television show and once you begin to relate this to media you know it will become clear that this is the expectation of readers.

That being said, there is no hard rule that says you can’t move this around or even throw it out the window completely. It’s worth noting that in viewing this graphic that the lines representing the parts of the pyramid are not to scale with how long the parts of the plot should be. Some aspects might vary from story to story, and you shouldn’t view the Freytag Pyramid as a rigid structure that you are bound by with your plot. 

The first part of the pyramid is the exposition. This is where we are introduced to the story, characters, setting, and begin to see how things are going to unfold. This can be as simple as seeing our main character going about their normal day just before the story begins to take off, prior to the climax before a flashback, or any other method that introduces the story, characters, location, or other relevant details. The exposition just sets the table.

The inciting incident is where the plot begins to unfold. This is an action that happens that puts the story in motion and begins to challenge the main character. This turning point then leads into the rising action. This is where tension in the plot begins to build and edges the character toward the climax of the story.

The climax is simply the high point of the plot and contains the most excitement. This is where the tension is released, and the plot begins to wind down and many questions begin to be answered. It’s not necessarily the end of the story as many details are not yet worked out. This is where the falling action comes into play. The falling action comes directly after the climax and is where elements of the story are tied together. 

The resolution is where the characters finally resolve the conflict that occurred during the inciting incident and/or rising action. We finally get all the answers, and we see how the characters have solved the conflict and see the fallout of the climax. This is where we can measure where our characters have grown or understand their sacrifice during the story.

The last part is the denouncement and is where the characters move on after the plot. This might occur at any timeframe from right after the falling action or even during future events. We essentially see what the plot has done to our characters and how they live after the conflict that was presented in the story. If you think of your favorite book, you should be able to pick out pieces of the Freytag Pyramid. Even movies follow this basic mode of plot development. So, you might ask, is this the only way to write a book? That answer is no.

While the basic Freytag Pyramid is the standard in storytelling and is a reliable way to tell a story it can also be a rigid way to confine the writer. There is also the issue that many of us have encountered while reading a book or watching a movie or television show that follows this basic flow which is predictability. How many times have you watched or read something where your mind drifts to where you know what is going to happen during the climax or how things will turn out for the plot or characters?

There are ways to alter the pyramid, but for most new writers the basic flow is the safest and easiest method to use. This method has been used for so long that many writers tend to follow it whether they realize it or not. This method offers a new writer, or anyone for that matter, a solid skeleton to build their plot around. One may also incorporate multiple pyramids within one story. Different characters might be at different points of their own pyramid during a story. These separate points might come together at the climax or remain fractured. Again, the Freytag Pyramid is a great guide to creating the perfectly flowing plot but don’t limit yourself to its simplicity if your storytelling decides to go into a different direction.