In a novel, the plot refers to the sequence of events and actions that make up the story. It is how the series of connected incidents that move the narrative forward, create conflict, and ultimately resolve it, are tied together.
The plot usually has five main elements:
Exposition: This is where the author introduces the main characters, the setting, and the basic situation or conflict.
Rising Action: This is the series of events that create tension and lead up to the climax. It includes various obstacles, challenges, and conflicts that the characters must overcome.
Climax: This is the turning point of the story, where the conflict reaches its peak and the outcome is uncertain.
Falling Action: This is where the tension begins to decrease and the story moves towards resolution. Loose ends are tied up and loose threads are knotted together.
Resolution: This is where the story comes to a close, and the conflicts are resolved.
The plot is the backbone of the story and is essential for engaging the reader and holding their interest. It creates a sense of momentum and tension that drives the narrative forward and keeps the reader engaged.
A plot example
Here’s an example of a novel plot from “The Girl on the Train” by Paula Hawkins. Spoiler Alert!
This critically and commercially successful novel, which as of September 2021 had sold over 20 million copies, has been translated into more than 40 languages.
In the novel, Rachel, an alcoholic and divorced woman, takes the same commuter train every morning and passes by a couple’s house who she watches and imagines their perfect life. One day, she witnesses something shocking from the train window and decides to report it to the police, believing it could be crucial to a missing person case. However, her testimony is unreliable because of her alcohol addiction and her own problems, making her a suspect herself.
As the story unfolds, the reader discovers the complicated relationships between the characters and the secrets they are hiding. Rachel starts to investigate on her own, determined to uncover the truth about the disappearance of the woman she had been watching, but she finds herself in danger when she gets too close to the people involved in the case. In the end, the twists and turns of the story reveal the shocking truth about what really happened, including Rachel’s own role in it.
Here are the main plot points from the novel
Exposition
- Rachel takes the same train every day and observes a couple she sees from the train window, imagining their perfect life.
- Rachel is an alcoholic and her ex-husband, Tom, has remarried and started a family with another woman, Anna.
Rising Action
- Rachel witnesses something shocking from the train window and becomes entangled in a missing person case involving the woman she had been watching.
- Rachel’s testimony is unreliable due to her alcohol addiction, and she becomes a suspect in the case.
- Rachel starts to investigate on her own, becoming more and more obsessed with the case and putting herself in danger.
- The story reveals the complicated relationships between the characters and the secrets they are hiding, including Tom’s abusive behavior towards Anna.
Climax
- Megan, the missing woman, had been having an affair with Tom, and he is revealed to be the murderer.
- Rachel confronts Tom, who attempts to kill her, but she fights back and ultimately saves herself and Anna from Tom’s violent tendencies.
Falling Action
- Rachel struggles to accept that Tom, her ex-husband whom she still loves, is the killer.
- Anna realizes the extent of Tom’s deception and abuse
- Detective Inspector Gaskill and Detective Sergeant Riley wrap up the investigation and start to put together the pieces of Tom’s motive and actions.
- Rachel begins to move on from her obsession with Tom and starts to form a new relationship with Scott, Megan’s husband.
Resolution
- Rachel stops drinking and starts to regain her memory, ultimately recalling that she herself was responsible for injuring Anna during a blackout episode and causing her to lose her pregnancy.
- Anna leaves Tom and moves on with her life, finally free from his emotional abuse and controlling behavior.
Learn more about creating great plots for your novel
New Writers TV has a whole section of videos that discuss plots and subplots.
