Here to learn? You’re in the WRITE place!

In stories, we get to see the cause-and-effect connections between otherwise random events. We get to experience the deeper meaning in life. We get to see through the chaos of real life and see the underlying pattern.

The literary term for this pattern is story arc, and humans love story arcs.

In this article, we’re going to talk about the definition of story arcs, look at the six most commonly found story arcs in literature, talk about how to use them in your writing, and, finally, study which story arcs are the most successful.

We often think that to create conflict we need to show spectacular events. For example, a car chase, an argument between lovers, a fistfight, or the threat of a nuclear explosion. Or we think of conflict as some kind of internal suffering: depression, longing, or pain.

But the truth is that if events and emotions were the only elements of conflict in our stories, we’d have some pretty flat stories.

Conflict, in good stories, is not about spectacular events or painful emotions. Good conflict is about values.

Comedy, as a plot, refers to a specific narrative structure characterized by misunderstandings, mistaken identities, and humorous situations that lead to a resolution and a happy ending.

In the context of storytelling, a comedy plot often begins with a scenario that creates conflict or confusion, particularly between characters who are romantically interested in one another but are kept apart by various comedic obstacles. These obstacles—often fueled by folly, deception, or societal norms—culminate in a series of humorous events that ultimately resolve the conflict, allowing the characters to unite or find happiness.