7 Stages of a Story
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZaeTPXlKAg
“There are nine and sixty ways of writing tribal lays, and every single one of them is right.” R. Kipling
There is a lot of contradictory advice on how to write well. One method is the seven stages: exposition, inciting incident, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution, denouement.
https://writershelpingwriters.net/2015/01/writing-patterns-fiction-scene-sequel/ This link goes to a similar, but not identical pattern. Always remember the 5 Ws when setting the scene.
“I keep six honest serving-men
(They taught me all I knew);
Their names are What and Why and When
And How and Where and Who.” Rudyard Kipling
Here I have filled in the Seven Stages with the outline for a Regency romance.
Exposition: setting the scene. The writer introduces the characters and setting, providing
description and background.
Introduce main characters, setting.
Athaliah Jillson, governess; the Livingston girls, her charges; Lord Thomas Cotesford, younger son of the Marquess of Lonsdale, a neighbor and an aspiring politician.
2. Inciting Incident: something happens to begin the action. A single event usually signals
the beginning of the main conflict. The inciting incident is sometimes called the complication.
Lord Tom Cotesford accidentally compromises his neighbor’s governess and is forced to
marry her. Although his family (especially his mother the marchioness) are opposed to
the misalliance, “Lady Tom” first becomes her husband’s friend and then his darling.
Possibly aim for Christian market.
The governess glanced up at the sky. The cool wind pushed her bonnet off and
brushed her strawberry blonde curls awry. “I am afraid that it looks like rain, girls.
Perhaps we should postpone our picnic.”
“Oh, no!”
“Please, Miss Jilly, we must have our picnic!”
“Please? You promised.”
Athaliah Jillson looked first at her young charges, then at the sky again. She
hated to deprive them of their outing. Thanks to an outbreak of measles, the Livingston
children had been confined to the house for over a week. She hated to disappoint them.
On the other hand, she was responsible for the three girls. Getting drenched when they’d
just finished convalescing would do them no good. The redhead thought quickly. The
children needed to be out of the stale atmosphere of the sickroom. Fresh air would do
them good … if the rain held off.
“We’ll go to the Folly,” the governess decided, “and have our picnic there. If it
does rain, we’ll be safe and dry.”
“Oh, thank you, Miss Jilly, thank you,” the three girls cried.
They picnic next to folly. Rain begins, they take shelter. Neighbor rides by, shelters w/them. He was taking short cut over Livingston’s land to get elsewhere. Lord Thomas Cotesford, marquess’ younger son, is running for Parliament. Political rival spreads word
Lord Thomas Cotesford, son of Marquess of Lonsdale, accidentally compromises Miss Athaliah Jillson; forced to propose to her. She declines at first, but pressured by employer and bishop to accept his offer. The bishop (who knew her father slightly) brings up the example of St. Margaret (not in love with King Malcolm, but she could do more good as queen than as a cloistered nun). Mrs. Livingston finally uses ultimate threat — can’t have scarlet woman teaching her girls. Jilly points out not scarlet woman, and marrying Lord Thomas under false pretenses would be a sin. However, if unemployed, dishonored, shehas no choice. Marry Lord Thomas or starve. She expects the banns to be called, Lady Lonsdale wants special license.
3. Rising Action: the story builds and gets more exciting.
They are married. Is there a honeymoon or a wedding trip, or does he skip that because the election is so near and he didn’t want to marry her anyway? Skip. He is elected to the House of Commons. His friends can’t pronounce her name, so call her Lady Tom; the nickname sticks. Lady Tom enters Beau Monde, begins career as political hostess, shocks husband by being much more liberal than he is. She has Whig sentiments, and his family is strongly Tory. As hostess, invites people from both sides of the aisle, also invites intellectuals, reformers, etc.
4. Climax: the moment of greatest tension in a story. This is often the most exciting event. It is the event that the rising action builds up to and that the falling action follows. Lady Lonsdale dislikes Lady Tom, and less than subtle about hiding it. Not good enough for her boy. Disappointed by her lack of town bronze. Lord Lonsdale is disappointed in her political views and the guests she invites to his home. Women shouldn’t have political views, just be gracious hostesses. Marquess and son shocked to see her reading Mary Wollstonecraft, William Wilberforce, Hannah More, etc.
5. Falling Action: events happen as a result of the climax and we know that the story will soon end. Lady Tom begins to make her own friends, develop her own interests. Lord Thomas realizes that other people appreciate his wife more than he does. Lady Tom gets pregnant.
6. Resolution: the character solves the main problem/conflict or someone solves it for him or her. Lord Thomas begins to moderate his views. Lord Thomas begins to fall in love with the mother of his child.
7. Dénouement: (a French term, pronounced: day-noo-moh) the ending. At this point, any remaining secrets, questions or mysteries which remain after the resolution are solved by the characters or explained by the author. Sometimes the author leaves us to think aboutthe THEME or future possibilities for the characters. Lord Thomas stands up to his parents, defends his wife. Confesses to her that she has claimed his heart.
You can think of the dénouement as the opposite of the exposition: instead of getting ready to tell us the story by introducing the setting and characters, the author is getting ready to end it with a final explanation of what actually happened and how the characters think or feel about it. This can be the most difficult part of the plot to identify, as it is often very closely tied to the resolution.
“How do you do, Miss Jillson?” The solicitor, Martin Bluestone sat down and dipped a quill in the inkpot. “What is it you want from this settlement, Miss?”
“Financial support if the marriage ends through annulment or divorce.”
“There has never been a divorce in the Cotesford family,” Lord Lonsdale spoke up.
“There’s a first time for everything,” Athaliah retorted.
“I thought two hundred pounds if the marriage ended early,” Athaliah suggested.
“Two hundred pounds a year?” Lord Lonsdale gasped.
“No, no, that would be greedy. Two hundred pounds in total, not per annum. However, I was wondering if I could ask for pin money while we’re married.”
Bluestone looked at the marquess. “We could guarantee a reasonable amount of pin money, couldn’t we, say ten pounds a month for visits to milliners and dressmakers and such? She would need to dress in a manner that upholds the dignity of the Cotesford family.”
“I certainly agree in principle, but I should need to consult with my wife to see if that’s enough for feminine furbelows. Perhaps it would be better to just agree that Miss Jillson will be clad in a manner befitting her position, rather than a specific amount,” the marquess suggested.
“I have found that specifics are best for both parties when drawing up a contract,” Bluestone countered. “However, the amount does not need to be determined today.”
https://www.jstor.org/stable/3678475?read-now=1&seq=4#page_scan_tab_contents
“Geoffrey, you must meet, my wife,” Tom insisted, dragging his friend over to where Athaliah sat with the wallflowers and their chaperones. “Athaliah, may I present Sir Geoffrey Stewart-Fleming? Geoff, my wife Athaliah.”
“How do you do, Lady Thomas?” the baronet inquired politely.
“Very nice to meet you, Sir Geoffrey,” she replied.
“Will your husband call me out if I ask you to dance, ma’am?”
“I very much doubt it, sir. Frankly, I should be delighted to accept if you ask me to dance. As long as it’s not a waltz. The patronesses at Almack’s have not yet given me permission to dance.”
“I think it is only maiden ladies who require permission. The rules are less stringent for married ladies, “ Sir Geoffrey told her.
“Well, then, I should save my first waltz for my husband.”
“For shame, Tom. Have you not asked Athalee,”
“Athaliah,” she corrected quietly.
“Attaleelee to waltz yet?”
“Athaliah,” she repeated.
“Perhaps I had best stick with Lady Thomas until I can manage to get my tongue around it.” Sir Geoffrey conceded.
Smiling, she nodded her head.
“By your leave, I shall return when the quadrille begins.”
“That would be most kind of you.”
“ ‘Twould be my pleasure, Lady Tom,” he assured her. “You’ll not object, Tom?”
“No, of course not. Athaliah needs to meet more people in London. A quadrille will ensure she gets to know at least three people.”
“Jack, Diana, may I impose on you for a favor?” Geoffrey asked a few minutes later.
Captain Russell and his wife Lady Diana looked up to see what Sir Geoffrey wanted.
“Have you met Tom Cotesford’s new bride?”
“No, not yet,” Jack confessed.
“I attempted to call on her, but she was not at home at the time,” Lady Diana explained.
Sir Geoffrey nodded. Good manners demanding calling on a bride, after her marriage. “Tom has given me permission to dance with her. A quadrille will require four people. Will you join us in the dance?”
“I am always delighted to dance, and we both love the quadrille,” Lady Diana looked up at her husband with a smile.
1. Exposition: setting the scene. The writer introduces the characters and setting, providing
description and background.
Introduce main characters, setting.
2. Inciting Incident: something happens to begin the action. A single event usually signals
the beginning of the main conflict. The inciting incident is sometimes called the complication.
Lord Thomas Cotesford, son of Marquess of Lonsdale, accidentally compromises Miss Athaliah Jillson; forced to propose to her. She declines at first, but pressured by employer and bishop to accept his offer. The bishop (who knew her father slightly) brings up the example of St. Margaret. Mrs. Livingston finally uses ultimate threat — can’t have scarlet woman teaching her girls. Jilly points out not scarlet woman, and marrying LordThomas under false pretenses would be a sin. However, if unemployed, dishonored, shehas no choice. Marry Lord Thomas or starve. She expects the banns to be called, Lady Lonsdale wants special license.
3. Rising Action: the story builds and gets more exciting.
They are married. Is there a honeymoon or a wedding trip, or does he skip that because the election is so near and he didn’t want to marry her anyway? Skip. He is elected to the House of Commons. His friends can’t pronounce her name, so call her Lady Tom; the nickname sticks. Lady Tom enters Beau Monde, begins career as political hostess, shocks husband by being much more liberal than he is. She has Whig sentiments, and his family is strongly Tory. As hostess, invites people from both sides of the aisle, alsoinvites intellectuals, reformers, etc.
4. Climax: the moment of greatest tension in a story. This is often the most exciting event. It is the event that the rising action builds up to and that the falling action follows. Lady Lonsdale dislikes Lady Tom, and less than subtle about hiding it. Not good enough for her boy. Disappointed by her lack of town bronze. Lord Lonsdale is disappointed in her political views and the guests she invites to his home. Women shouldn’t have political views, just be gracious hostesses. Marquess and son shocked to see her reading Mary Wollstonecraft, William Wilberforce, Hannah More, etc.
5. Falling Action: events happen as a result of the climax and we know that the story will soon end.
Lady Tom begins to make her own friends, develop her own interests. Lord Thomas realizes that other people appreciate his wife more than he does. Lady Tom gets pregnant.
6. Resolution: the character solves the main problem/conflict or someone solves it for him or her.
Lord Thomas begins to moderate his views. Lord Thomas begins to fall in love with the mother of his child.
7. Dénouement: (a French term, pronounced: day-noo-moh) the ending. At this point, any remaining secrets, questions or mysteries which remain after the resolution are solved by the characters or explained by the author. Sometimes the author leaves us to think about the THEME or future possibilities for the characters.
Lord Thomas stands up to his parents, defends his wife. Confesses to her that she has claimed his heart.
You can think of the dénouement as the opposite of the exposition: instead of getting ready to tell us the story by introducing the setting and characters, the author is getting ready to end it with a final explanation of what actually happened and how the characters think or feel about it. This can be the most difficult part of the plot to identify, as it is often very closely tied to the resolution.
“How do you do, Miss Jillson?” The solicitor, Martin Bluestone sat down and dipped a quill in the inkpot. “What is it you want from this settlement, Miss?”
“Financial support if the marriage ends through annulment or divorce.”
“There has never been a divorce in the Cotesford family,” Lord Lonsdale spoke up.
“There’s a first time for everything,” Athaliah retorted.
“I thought two hundred pounds if the marriage ended early,” Athaliah suggested.
“Two hundred pounds a year?” Lord Lonsdale gasped.
“No, no, that would be greedy. Two hundred pounds in total, not per annum. However, I was wondering if I could ask for pin money while we’re married.”
Bluestone looked at the marquess. “We could guarantee a reasonable amount of pin money, couldn’t we, say ten pounds a month for visits to milliners and dressmakers and such? She would need to dress in a manner that upholds the dignity of the Cotesford family.”
“I certainly agree in principle, but I should need to consult with my wife to see if that’s enough for feminine furbelows. Perhaps it would be better to just agree that Miss Jillson will be clad in a manner befitting her position, rather than a specific amount,” the marquess suggested.
“I have found that specifics are best for both parties when drawing up a contract,” Bluestone countered. “However, the amount does not need to be determined today.”
https://www.jstor.org/stable/3678475?read-now=1&seq=4#page_scan_tab_contents
“Geoffrey, you must meet my wife,” Tom insisted, dragging his friend over to where Athaliah sat with the wallflowers and their chaperones. “Athaliah, may I present Sir Geoffrey Stewart-Fleming? Geoff, my wife Athaliah.”
“How do you do, Lady Thomas?” the baronet inquired politely.
“Very nice to meet you, Sir Geoffrey,” she replied.
“Will your husband call me out if I ask you to dance, ma’am?”
“I very much doubt it, sir. Frankly, I should be delighted to accept if you ask me to dance. As long as it’s not a waltz. The patronesses at Almack’s have not yet given me permission to dance.”
“I think it is only maiden ladies who require permission. The rules are less stringent for married ladies, “ Sir Geoffrey told her.
“Well, then, I should save my first waltz for my husband.”
“For shame, Tom. Have you not asked Athalee,”
“Athaliah,” she corrected quietly.
“Attaleelee to waltz yet?”
“Athaliah,” she repeated.
“Perhaps I had best stick with Lady Thomas until I can manage to get my tongue around it.” Sir Geoffrey conceded.
Smiling, she nodded her head.
“By your leave, I shall return when the quadrille begins.”
“That would be most kind of you.”
“ ‘Twould be my pleasure, Lady Tom,” he assured her. “You’ll not object, Tom?”
“No, of course not. Athaliah needs to meet more people in London. A quadrille will ensure she gets to know at least three people.”
“Jack, Diana, may I impose on you for a favor?” Geoffrey asked a few minutes later.
Captain Russell and his wife Lady Diana looked up to see what Sir Geoffrey wanted.
“Have you met Tom Cotesford’s new bride?”
“No, not yet,” Jack confessed.
“I attempted to call on her, but she was not at home at the time,” Lady Diana explained.
Sir Geoffrey nodded. Good manners demanding calling on a bride, as soon as possible after her marriage. “Tom has given me permission to dance with her. A quadrille will require four people. Will you join us in the dance?”
“I am always delighted to dance, and we both love the quadrille,” Lady Diana looked up at her husband with a smile.
