As I struggle at a crawl through the draft of my latest nervous attempt at writing short fiction, I find myself contemplating Freytag's Triangle:

                              climax 

                                  /  \
                                /      \
    rising action    /          \    falling action
                            /              \
                          /                  \
__________ /                      \ _________
exposition                                 resolution

Freytag devised this model as a tool to assist with the analysis and evaluation of dramatic art. But look at it long enough, and it's tough not to apply it to what happens (or doesn't happen) in the bedroom. Well... it is for me at least. 

Call me what you like (go ahead! Insert epithet here: _____ ), but, in a traditionalist sense, it could be said that the requirements that make a successful, enjoyable short story, and a successful, enjoyable sexual experience are one in the same.

Both require:   Exposition - Rising Action - Climax - Resolution. 

Honestly, I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I'm having a great deal of trouble with the Rising Action part (IN WRITING THAT IS! No really! Ahh, whatever). Getting my action to rise is indeed a problem. Quite common isn't it? It happens to everyone from time to time... right? 

In the bedroom (for men at least), Rising Action is the engine upon which all other actions depend (Exposition is rendered moot without it, Climax and Resolution are made possible by way of it).

And within a short fiction narrative, successfully employing Rising Action in a way that feels organic is without a doubt, the most difficult thing to achieve--at least for me. Being inventive and/or funny and/or clever is all well and good. Original subject matter: good. Affective use of language: good good. But how to "get things to happen" to my characters so that there's more at stake emotionally/morally within the story is the skill I'm having trouble developing.

How do you guys do it? How does Rising Action work for you? This is my plea for Viagra pills. Share em if you got em. 

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The application of conflict/suspense/rising action in short fiction is the topic.

Post your thoughts, advice, experience (or lack there of), or even a passage of your own work that demonstrates rising action within a narrative.

Anyone is welcome. =)

updated Sep 6 '10 by SeeThomasHowl