The fall-rise-fall plot (also known as the Oedipus plot) looks like this:
This plot is named after Sophocles' play Oedipus Rex. The structure is often used for great tragedies as unlike other plots that end in a fall, the Oedipus plot gives us a sense of hope with the rise in the middle.
This plot tends to be less popular in terms of writing a modern "best seller" novel as it doesn't provide us with a happy ending, especially as the story starts off on a successful note.
Can you think of any stories that match this plot?
A story that I read (and wrote about briefly in this post: https://georginasaesthetic.wixsite.com/mysite/post/my-reading) recently called The Darkness fits this plot best - it's definitely worth a read if you get a chance and aren't dependent on a happy ending!
Try writing a short story with this plot. Oedipus Rex and other older perhaps "cautionary tales" or Biblical stories are a great place to start if you're looking for inspiration or examples. In my opinion, this plot is a great place to start as it makes you consider whether a happy ending is the be all and end all of plots.
Happy writing!
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