Rising Action in a Story: Definition, Examples, and Key Characteristics

You know that feeling when you pick up a book, start reading, and suddenly you can’t stop? That growing sense of anticipation, the tension simmering just beneath the surface, pulling you toward something big? That’s the magic of rising action at work.

Think of it like a roller coaster—the slow, steady climb before the exhilarating drop. It’s the buildup that keeps readers on the edge of their seats, turning pages late into the night. In this post, we’ll explore what rising action is, why it’s crucial, and how you can master it to craft stories that captivate your audience.

What is rising action?

Rising action is a fundamental element of story structure. It’s the series of events, obstacles, and revelations that escalate the conflict and drive the plot forward, ultimately leading to the climax. 

At its core, rising action:

• Introduces and develops the main conflict after an inciting incident
• Builds suspense and tension
• Strengthens character growth and relationships
• Adds depth through subplots and revelations

If you want to keep your reader hooked, it's essential to have strong rising action that makes your protagonist's climactic final showdown seem inevitable. Without well-executed rising action, a story’s climax will lack impact. It’s the buildup that makes the payoff worth it!

Where does rising action fit in story structure?

To truly grasp how rising action works, let’s look at two popular plot structure frameworks: Freytag’s Pyramid and Save the Cat!

Freytag's Pyramid

Developed by German playwright Gustav Freytag, Freytag’s Pyramid breaks a story into five key stages:

1. Exposition – Introduces the setting, characters, and conflict. The conflict begins with a plot point called the inciting incident.

2. Rising Action – Builds tension through obstacles and developments.

3. Climax – The turning point or peak of intensity.

4. Falling Action – The aftermath of the climax, resolving loose ends.

5. Resolution (also called Denouement) – The conclusion of the story arc.

Let's look at an example. In The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, the rising action begins when Katniss volunteers (the inciting incident), goes through training, and enters the Games, with each event escalating tension until the climax—her defiance against the Capitol.

Save the Cat!

In the Save the Cat! beat sheet, rising action mainly occurs between the Break Into Two (25%) and the Break Into Three (75%) beats. This section includes:

• Fun & Games (30-55%) – The “promise of the premise,” where the protagonist actively engages with their new world, facing escalating challenges.

• Midpoint (50%) – A major turning point that raises the stakes.

• Bad Guys Close In (55-75%) – Increasing tension, where external and internal struggles intensify before the crisis point.

In The Hunger Games, the “Fun & Games” section includes Katniss navigating the Games, forming alliances, and surviving early dangers. The Midpoint occurs when the rule change allows two tributes to win together. In Bad Guys Close In, the Capitol tightens control, the remaining tributes become more dangerous, and Katniss and Peeta face greater threats.

Both the pyramid structure and Save the Cat! emphasize rising action as the engine that propels the story forward, ensuring a gripping, page-turning experience for readers.

Now, let’s dive into how you can make your rising action truly compelling, as well as some examples of rising action in popular novels.

Tips for writing rising action

Establish conflict and goals early

From the start, your protagonist needs a goal and an obstacle standing in their way. This tension between what the character wants to achieve and the forces opposing them is what fuels the rising action. One surefire way to accomplish this is by introducing a central conflict early in your story. By doing so, you establish a clear goal for your hero to work towards, which drives the rising action and leads to the dramatic climax.

In A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown, Malik must win the Solstasia competition to save his sister, while Karina must sacrifice the winner to bring back her mother. Their opposing goals create immediate, high-stakes conflict that moves the story forward while pulling readers in.

When writing your own novel, make your protagonist’s goal clear, raise the stakes, and let the tension unfold!

Gradually escalate the tension

A great story doesn’t throw all its plot elements at the protagonist at once. Instead, tension should increase step by step, making each new obstacle more difficult than the last.

In The Hunger Games, Katniss first faces survival challenges in the arena. Then, she must navigate alliances, the twisted love triangle, and the increasing danger of the Capitol’s control. With each new challenge, the stakes rise, keeping readers deeply invested.

Every scene should push the protagonist closer to a breaking point—just when they think things can’t get worse, they do.

Character development, relationships, and emotional resonance

Rising action isn’t just about external events—it’s also where characters evolve. Readers should see their struggles, emotions, and relationships deepen as the story progresses.

For example, in John Green's YA novel The Fault in Our Stars, the rising action begins after the protagonist, Hazel, meets Augustus Waters at their cancer support group. Hazel's character arc is not just about the external conflict of battling cancer, but her internal conflict about falling in love with Augustus despite knowing that her cancer diagnosis is terminal. Hazel and Augustus’s relationship grows throughout the rising action. As they face their fears and share vulnerabilities, their bond becomes the emotional core of the story.

Let readers see how obstacles shape your characters, making their triumph (or downfall) even more powerful.

Introduce subplots

Subplots aren’t just side stories—they enrich the main plot by adding complexity and increasing tension in the story. When done well, they can make the rising action even more gripping.

For example, in George R.R. Martin's epic A Song of Ice and Fire series, the battle for the Iron Throne is the central conflict, but subplots—political schemes, betrayals, and personal vendettas—keep readers engaged and constantly guessing.

When crafting your own plots, ask yourself: How can subplots intertwine with the primary conflict to build anticipation and suspense?

Unveiling secrets and foreshadowing the climax

Effective storytelling involves disclosing key information at the right time. During the rising action, strategic reveals and foreshadowing build tension, keeping readers engaged while subtly preparing them for the climax.

In Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, the rising action masterfully unveils secrets in layers. As Nick’s behavior becomes increasingly suspicious and evidence stacks against him, readers are led to believe he may have killed his wife, Amy. The tension escalates until the shocking midpoint twist—Amy is alive and has orchestrated the entire disappearance to frame Nick. The breadcrumbs of foreshadowing scattered throughout the first part of the rising action make this revelation both surprising and inevitable, keeping readers hooked.

Unveiling secrets and foreshadowing not only enhance suspense but also ensure that when the climax arrives, it feels both earned and impactful.

Ready to build rising action in a story?

Ready to make your story unputdownable? As a writer, it's key to remember the importance of rising action when crafting stories. By using the tips outlined in this post and practicing these elements of plot, you'll be able to develop your story’s momentum and put readers on the edge of their seats!