Rising action
noun. The juicy middle part of your story — where tension builds, problems pile up, and your protagonist seriously regrets saying “I’ve got this.”
What is rising action?
Rising action is the section of your story that comes after the setup and before the big showdown. It’s where things heat up. Stakes get higher. Complications multiply. And your characters are pushed out of their comfort zones, usually kicking and screaming.
It’s not just “stuff happening.” It’s stuff that escalates — plot points, character decisions, unexpected consequences — all leading toward the climax.
Where does rising action fit in a story?
If your story was a rollercoaster:
- Exposition is boarding the ride.
- Inciting incident is the first lurch forward.
- Rising action is the big uphill climb — click, click, click.
- Climax is the drop.
- Falling action and resolution is the ride slowing down…probably with some emotional whiplash.
Rising action usually takes up a big chunk of your story. It’s where character arcs deepen, relationships shift, and themes start to take shape.
Why does your story need it?
Because without rising action, your plot is either too flat or too fast. This is the part that builds suspense, deepens emotional investment, and gives your story its heartbeat. It’s what keeps readers turning the page. Rising action gives your characters space to grow (or fail spectacularly), creates tension that begs to be resolved, and lays the groundwork for the final payoff. Without it, the climax doesn’t land — it just arrives.
What rising action might include?
- Challenges and mini-conflicts
- Big decisions (and their fallout)
- Shifting alliances or betrayals
- Revelations and reversals
- Ticking clocks, rising stakes, or a sense that something’s coming. (Basically: tension, with purpose.)
Example of rising action in action
In The Hunger Games, the rising action starts the moment Katniss volunteers for Prim. From there, we watch her train, try to figure out who to trust, navigate both the Capitol and her feelings about Peeta, and step into the arena. Each event raises the tension. Every choice has consequences. The rules shift. The danger grows. By the time the climax hits — the berries moment — we feel the weight of everything that’s led there.
Rising action is what makes your story breathe, twist, and build. It’s not filler — it’s the engine that drives your plot toward its most explosive moment. Skimp on it, and your climax might fall flat. Build it right, and readers won’t be able to look away.
