Simple Steps to Create a Story Plan

A story plan is the first step in writing fiction.

A story plan will be a sketch of the story you plan to write and is to be used for planning purposes. One way to get started is to think of a real incident that you or someone you know has experienced. Base your story plan on that incident, but change anything you wish if it makes your story more interesting or exciting.

You can also base a story on real events that you read about online or hear on the news. Just change the names, the location, and embellish the sequence of events to make them your own creation. For example, West Side Story is a retelling of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

Consider the following elements when you begin your story plan. You can skip around if you wish, but be sure to complete all the steps below.

Decide on the characters. Name the characters and describe their role in the story and their relationship to one another. For example: Marie Martin, heroine, secretary to the president of the bank. (If you are not ready to use names, just use descriptions: librarian, doctor, etc.)

Choose a setting. Decide when and where the events will take place. Be as specific as you can because that will help you when you begin your research. (For example: the South in the 60’s vs. Birmingham, Alabama in 1965.)

Decide on the main conflict in the story. What is the problem that your main character faces when the story begins? (For example: Marie Martin has been accused of stealing money from the bank.)

Decide on a series of events in the plot. Briefly describe what happens in a few sentences. (You can add to these, subtract from these, and rearrange these later.) What happens? What happens next?

Determine the climax of the story. Describe the moment after which nothing will be the same. If a car is dangling over a cliff throughout the story, and then the driver is rescued moments before the car plunges down the embankment, that's the climax.

Determine the resolution of the story. What happens at the end when the loose ends are tied up? (Some writers determine the ending first and work backwards from there.)

Visit my store for an exercise your students can do to create a story plan.

This activity is part of a creative writing bundle with 9 activities 

and saves you 20%. 

Here's hoping the 2021-22 school year is off to a great start!

Take a look at some of the interesting blog posts below from my teacher friends at The Best of Teacher Entrepreneurs Marking Cooperative. If you are a teacher-author, joining this organization will help you market your materials.

Thanks for reading,

Charlene

The Best of Teacher Entrepreneurs Marking Cooperative

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