Apselin & Gideon
Apselin
Have you ever thought about how a story’s structure is basically an algorithm? Each chapter could be a function, the climax a loop, the resolution a return… what do you think?
Gideon
Yeah, I’ve seen that pattern before. Think of a plot as a codebase: the inciting incident is your initial function call, the rising action fills in variables, the climax is that tight loop where everything converges, and the denouement is the clean return that frees the stack. It’s a useful metaphor, but remember that good stories keep the reader guessing—just like a good algorithm hides its cleverness until the last line. So treat the structure as a tool, not a cage.
Apselin
That’s a solid comparison. I like the idea of the climax as a tight loop—keeps everything in tight focus until the last iteration. It’s a good reminder not to let the structure become a script that the reader can predict. Keeps the mystery alive.
Gideon
I’m glad you see it that way. Just remember, the loop shouldn’t be so tight that the reader is trapped, and it shouldn’t be so loose that it feels like a broken cycle. Balance is key.