Today, class, we'll be learning about plots. Plots are the events, set in some semblance of an order, which cause character development and more events to occur. It's common for a person to picture what they want to do for an ending. They can imagine all the amazing things they want to put into it and tell themself "This is gonna be the best story ever" without putting any more thought into it. A story isn't just a collection of awesome kicks, explosions, kisses, and sex scenes. There has to be a beginning, middle, and end to the story.
If the story is written so that the events occur in an illogical fashion, no one will believe the story to be realistic. To make it good, you must have interesting characters to direct events and react to them, growing as they meet each new challenge. The plot progresses from the exposition to rising action to climax to falling action and resolution.
Exposition: The start of the story which introduces the main characters and sets the story in motion.
Rising Action: The portion of the story where information is revealed, characters make choices, and the hero(es) learn the skills they need.
Climax: The results of earlier choices come into effect, causing tumultuous events and changes. There can be many of these in one book, evenly scattered throughout or all in one short section.
Falling Action and Resolution: The end of the story where loose ends are tied up and the dust clears.
It is highly recommended that you have all these present in a story. Not introducing characters leaves readers confused. Without rising action, it's just a series of contrived coincidences and one Deus Ex Machina after another. If all you have is climax, then it feels much the same as only rising action and doesn't make for a story, just lots and lots of explosions. If a story is one long resolution, what you have is an epilogue. There wouldn't be much point in that, as it takes all the suspense out of the story.
Before the lesson goes any further, I'll explain what a Deus Ex Machina is. It is when an until now impossible to predict event happens. A good Deus Ex Machina should be plausible, unexpected, and is best used never. If you can't find another way out of the plot hole you've trodden into, this is one of the few acceptable ways to eat your way out of it. The reason I say that you eat your way out of a plot hole is because plot holes are particularly unpleasant to readers and writers. Finding how to fix them is difficult and the patch is obvious. Avoid them.
Allow me to return to my original point: DON'T START A STORY WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT YOUR PLOT WILL BE! If you can't think of how you're going to connect the events of your story, it's best to write down your ideas, then come up with a starting point. Better yet, try writing a first chapter, then build from there. You can even play a game with a friend by doing a chapter a week and seeing who can write the best story in a certain number of chapters with only a little idea of where they want to direct the plot. This exercise can inspire creativity. Exercises not to be confused with exorcises. Don't try experiencing exorcism. Trust me, it's not pleasant.