Freytag's triangle can be extremely useful. It is a two
dimensional model and show us that the story develops in more than one way. Last
time, we concentrated on getting you to understand exactly what your story is
about and giving it a very rough outline.
This time we're looking a little more at emphasis.
This diagram is probably self-explanatory.
How can you stress and downplay cause and effects? Then see
how the action rises and becomes more complex – desis.
Find the crisis point. Dénouement comes from the French and literally means
unknotting. During the "unknotting" both reader and protagonist will
get some enlightenment. The action "falls" as we hurtle towards the resolution.
Creative writing exercise
Take the story outline that you developed last time and plot
onto a triangle the same shape as this one what are the causes and effects.
Make sure you say a few words about each of these terms as
well:
Incentive moment
Rising action
Complication
Crisis
Reversal
Falling action
Dénouement
Resolution
Are you now getting some more meat on to the bones?
You may also find it useful to analyse a story you have read
and see how well it fits this model. Even if you are a "punster", you
may find it useful to see how well your finished story fits this model.
Possibly, if something is not working, it may be because this scheme is too
skewed.
