Welcome to this lesson of David Kummer’s writing course. That’s me, by the way. If you have any questions, comments, concerns, success stories, or just something fun to say, email me at davidkummer7@gmail.com. I’d love to talk about anything and everything, especially if that everything has to do with books, basketball, or Chinese food. I am a teenager, after all. So that’s that! Head on down and read what might be the best writing course of your life, but also might be the worst You won’t know until you try!

Parts of a Book:

A book is a tower, and you build it bottom to top, part by part.

 

Falling Action

Falling Action is one of the best places to develop your characters and to give your readers that satisfied feeling. But don’t let things get boring! Give them a chapter or two of rest, then get to work. Next up you’ll be writing another Climax or you might be…

 

Wrapping up the novel!

 

Welcome to Lesson #4 of Part 2!

 

On this fine day, we will review how to successfully and splendidly begin the sad process of wrapping up a story. (I say sad because you will definitely miss it! Which is why you write another one, of course).

 

There are many important things to remember with this section of the book. Although it’s only a chapter or two long, it can leave a very memorable impact on the reader, so let’s make sure we do it right! To figure out how; read onwards brave soldier.

What is Falling Action?

 

Falling Action is the area of the plot that comes after the Climax. After the big, emotional, heavy, life-changing experience you just gave the reader, it’s a step back and a breath of fresh air. Everything calms down a bit, and we some reflections and reactions to the changes.

 

Some people say that Falling Action leads to the end of the story (a.k.a. the Resolution). Those are the same people, however, who tell you there is only one Climax. Because, after all, if there’s one Climax then the only place for Falling Action to lead is to the end.

 

However, as we believe there are multiple Climax scenes, there can be multiple Falling Action scenes and so, of course, they don’t have to lead to the end!

 

No matter where it’s at in the story, the Falling Action part will do a couple things.

 

Firstly, it will show who’s still alive. Like seriously. Sometimes those Climax scenes are crazy, so the Falling Action is like a “head? check. toes? check. breathing? check” time. We know who is alive, who is dead, and who wants to be dead.

 

Secondly, it shows how the characters react to whatever changes they just went through. Sometimes, these reactions will lead us into another Rising Action/Climax/Falling Action cycle. Or, similarly, they will discover a new piece of information and realize the battle isn’t over!

 

Thirdly, it will give the characters even more depth. There’s nothing that develops characters better than their reactions to a crisis. And your Climax scene was a crisis. So how they respond and act after it -in the Falling Action- will show a lot about who they truly are.

 

Lastly, it gives the reader a moment to think. Just as the characters will probably be doing some hard soul-searching (if they’re alive), the reader will also be doing some thoughtful processing of the events (if they too are alive. If not, you’re a mad genius.)

When does it start and end?

 

The Falling Action begins right after the Climax and continues until another Rising Action scene comes up or the story’s end begins in the Resolution.

How do I make it good?

 

The keys to making a part of the story good is understanding what it’s about, and what makes it unique. So, point-by-point, we’ll go over what the Falling Action scene really is and how we can make them good.

 

1- Who’s Alive?

 

Make it clear for the readers who is alive or dead. If you want the readers to think somebody’s dead, have a mourning scene. If you want the reader to know somebody’s alive, have him talk or be talked about. It’s crucial in a story to know what’s going on, so knowing who’s alive is pretty much a given.

 

2- Reactions

 

These reactions should be relatable for the reader, and emotional as appropriate. What I mean is that if they stubbed a toe, they don’t need to be on the ground weeping for days. But if one of their friends died, then heck yeah they’re gonna cry! Just use reason for this part. You should know how somebody will react. If you don’t, it’s probably not relatable enough.

 

This goes more for Fantasy stories, but if a character is thinking about what happened, don’t throw in a bunch of fancy, big words or names that only work for that story. When trying to relate to readers, use universal themes, not your story’s.

 

*Example*

 

Somebody just died in a battle. It’s the day after, and they’re burying him. One character is remembering his life.

 

“Sir Samuel of Jornsburg was a brave soldier in the service of our king. His service and skill with a blade was unmatched by any. It took a hundred arrows to kill him and to pierce his side, until the blood flowed like a waterfall from his body’s many cuts.” The man bowed his head. “Such a warrior may never be seen again.”

 

All that may be true, but we can’t relate much. It comes across as too formal. Try this instead:

 

“Samuel was a brave man. He gave me everything: His time, his weapons, and at the end his life. I’ll never forget all the sacrifices he made for me.” The man bowed his head to hide the tears. “Even in death, he was a better man than any. He was a father to me. I hope I can honor him in my own life.”

 

*Example Ended*

 

3- Character Depth

 

After the Climax is fertile ground for character development. It’s almost like a new start on the story. You can show as much as you like about your characters through what they do, what they say, and how they act.
Take the example above, with the dead guy. The first person comes across as pompous and proud. The second seems more humble and emotional. I’m sure you relate more with the second, unless you’re a billionaire or something. (If you are, then why haven’t you bought my other books? Huh? Come on, Bill Gates).

 

Really put some effort into this. Making your characters more full and more rounded is the number one best way to make your book better. Right here is your chance.

 

4- Readers Thinking.

 

So, here’s the truth. After the Climax the reader is either gonna be looking to the end of the book, or to the next Climax scene. Give them a break for a chapter or two, but then get the story rushing again. It’s time for more battles or -in most cases- it’s time to wrap up this amazing novel you’ve penned. (Hint: next lesson).

What should happen to the characters?

 

How many characters do you kill? Well, that’s a hard choice. Do what’s best for your story. Don’t be afraid to push and break the boundaries. We’re gonna be unique, not like everybody. If you wanna kill everybody, then go for it.

 

At the same time, remember how important characters are to the story. They are what attach your reader. So, if you cut off all the attachments… you may lose a reader.

 

Give it some thought. Maybe instead of killing you can just wound one, or give him/her an emotional scar. (Scars are a very good way to develop your characters, also. There’s a certain mystery to them that is unlike anything else. This is true with both physical and emotional scars.)

Conclusion

 

Falling Action is one of the best places to develop your characters and to give your readers that satisfied feeling. But don’t let things get boring! Give them a chapter or two of rest, then get to work. Next up you’ll be writing another Climax or you might be…

 

Wrapping up the novel! So, therefore, you ought to go forwards to the next lesson where we will cover: Resolution.

 

See you there next time!

 

If you have missed parts 1,2, and 3, you can read them and catch up.