Are You A New Writer? (Basic Plot Structure Explained)

You do not have to follow the "word count goal" rule. It is definitely better to ignore the word count while writing because you can obsess over it, and it can develop writer's block. As you keep writing, you will develop a "writer's sense", and will know when it's time to spice up to the next part of the book. 

The Beginning  

1/4 of the book. (If the book was 80,000 words, the beginning would approximate 20,000 words.) 

Description: The beginning of a romance novel (especially dark romance), starts with a hook. This can be a patch of dialogue or just sentence that engages the reader. For example, your book could start with the sentence "Today was the worst day of my life". 

Usually in dark romances including Young Adult and Adult, the beginning can be a scene where she first meets the love interest, and/or hinting the meeting with the love interest. 

After the first chapter, the beginning can continue with plot points including the main character's life, friendships, and possible conflicts. 

The Enticing Incident 

Part of the Rising Action's Word Count 

Description: The enticing incident is a scene and/or event that creates a path from the beginning to the rising action. This includes a hook, as well to make the reader even more interested. 

For example—in dark romance—an idea for an enticing incident could be that the main character got kidnapped by the love interest and/or antagonist. 

The Rising Action 

1/2 of the book. (If the book was 80,000 words, the rising action would approximate 40,000 words) 

Description: The rising action is where most of the story takes place. This can include events that bring the love interest and main character together or apart. The rising action usually has a basic plotline that leads to the climax, but mainly is built up on scenes after scenes, and relieving plot holes. 

Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution 

1/4 of the book. (If the book was 80,000 words, these three parts of the plot would approximate 20,000 words) 

Description of The Climax: the tip of the iceberg that sends the story off the charts. The climax is the scene in a book where everything is at stake and could crumble before the main character in seconds. 

For example—in a dark romance—the climactic scene could be the main character being taken from the love interest by the antagonist, and the antagonist attempts to murder her before the love interest can come to save her. But the main character saves herself before the love interest loses her. 

The climax can be multiple chapters or just one, and can also have multiple thrilling scenes topped over each other. 

Description of The Falling Action: a scene or "calm down" moment between the main character and the love interest. In this scene, they could be snuggling, or it could be that the main character woke up in the hospital, and everyone's there to celebrate. 

The falling action is usually a chapter long, but can also be a bit longer. 

Description of The Resolution: a large (or small) scene where the main characters have a "happy ending". Or not! But usually in a cliffhanger, there is a resolution before the cliffhanger, and that's what catches the reader. 

Many common resolutions include scenes with marriage (whether it's the main character getting married or her best friend, mother, etc.), or possibly a party of some sort. Many of them could also have the main character and the love interest finding peace. 

A resolution is usually a chapter long, not really any longer than that (sometimes author's call it an epilogue), but do usually take place a time away from the ending of the book (a day, weeks, months, years), and also can take place directly after the falling action. It's your choice!