It can be difficult to plot out a great idea for a story.Plotting your story doesn't have to be hard.The first thing to do is to plan out your story ideas.Storytelling techniques are used to craft your story.You can complete a plot outline for your story to make it easier to follow.
Step 1: There was a brainstorm.
Before you can tell a complete story, you need to write out your ideas.Try to remember everything that comes to mind.Don't worry about making sense.Try to find new ideas for your story.Brainstorm about your story idea, characters, setting, or scene ideas.You can use a mind map to develop your ideas.
Step 2: The premise or summary of the story is what you should write.
The basic idea for the story is your premise.Continue developing the sentence until you have a short blurb.Two best friends are in a car accident, but only one of them is recovered.Kait and Maria are thrilled when they are invited to the party of the year.On their way home, Kait crashes his car on the wet road into a tree.Kait learns Maria wasn't in the car when she wakes up.Kait knows that her friend was with Maria on the night of the crash.
Step 3: There are character sheets for your main and supporting characters.
You can write down your character's description, personal details, and likes and dislikes.Your main characters should have a back story.Tell us about your character at the beginning of the story and how they will change over time.Determine what your character wants in the story.Character sheets can be long or short.An outline for your supporting characters is a good idea for a short story.You can find character sheet templates here.
Step 4: There is a central conflict.
Readers experience tension as they read, so your conflict should appear early in the story.The conflict will be developed throughout the story, reaching its peak at the end.The conflict should be solved at the end of the story.There are internal conflicts between the character and themselves.The character may know what they are doing is wrong but can't stop.There are conflicts outside the character.Person versus person is one of the main types.A girl confronted her bully.The main character faces nature.Campers must survive in the forest during a storm.The main character is confronted with issues in society or the rules of society.A girl helps change a law by engaging in civil disobedience.
Step 5: Your setting should be established.
Your story takes place in your setting.Setting affects how your story looks and develops.Society and technology would be vastly different in a story told in the 1920s than it is today.If you are setting your story in a time period that is unfamiliar to you, do some research to learn more about it.This will help you with the theme of your story.It is a good idea to look at photos of your setting, whether you use personal photos or pictures online.
Step 6: As they come to you, take down all of your scene ideas.
Don't worry about making sense or putting things in order.Get your ideas on paper.If you write down all of the exciting scenes first, you can add more as they come to you.Don't try to get yourself to work in a certain way.The easier it will be to fill in the gaps, the more you get out on paper.
Step 7: The opening scene needs to hook your reader.
Your character and setting should be introduced in this scene.Your reader can relate to your character in an everyday situation.Have your character face a related issue in the story.If you follow a traditional plot outline, this scene will act as your exposition.You could open your story with Kait and Maria going to the party.Kait couldn't control the car because it could slide on the pavement.
Step 8: Write about the inciting incident.
This is the beginning of your plot.The first scene in a short story or the first few chapters of a novel should be it.Make sure the conflict is set up by your inciting incident.It is possible that your hook and inciting incident are the same scene.The inciting incident in Kait and Maria's story would be when the car crashes into a tree.
Step 9: To intensify the tension, build rising action.
Your reader will be carried to the climax after the inciting incident.It should build tension over time.It may be contained in a single scene, but it will include a lot of rising action.It is a good idea to build moments of tension relief into your rising action to give the reader a break from the tension.The rising action in Kait and Maria's story might show him in the hospital, talking to the police, getting grounded from driving, and searching social media for references of Maria.
Step 10: Write it down.
Your main character faces a conflict at the end of the story.As the tension builds as high as it will go, this will be the emotional height of the story.When Kait discovers Maria's cell phone under the seat of the car, he will convince her she has been right all along.Kait might take her dad's car to look for Maria.Kait might go into the woods to look for her friend.Kait could see her injured friend curled inside the brush as she was about to get caught.
Step 11: Take a look at the scenes for your action.
The aftermath of your climax is presented by your falling action.The reader should be led to your resolution.It ties up your story plot.The falling action might include Kait getting help for Maria, Maria recovering in the hospital, and everyone apologizing for not believing him.
Step 12: A satisfying resolution is what you need to end your story.
The reader should feel like there are no loose ends.Many stories have unhappy endings.The reader should have a sense of satisfaction because they got something out of the story.Kait and Maria might have a small gathering to celebrate Maria's recovery.
Step 13: If necessary, fill in gaps.
You might realize you have scenes that don't connect with each other once your basic story is over.That is okay!Those plot gaps can be filled with connections at this point.Go back to that spot if you don't know how to get from A to B.Move on.You can come back later.
Step 14: Do you want your outline to be very detailed?
You can provide a summary of each scene, or you can write out everything that happened in that scene.It is up to you!A good plot outline can be created with either of the strategies.Don't feel like you have to write everything down now, you can always add to your plot outline later.
Step 15: An outline is needed to organize the information.
Alphanumeric outlines are perfect for plot outlines because of their ability to create layers of information.If you want a more developed outline, you can include more layers.The basic numbering system for an outline is Roman Numerals.This could be a scene summary.The capital letters are A, B, and C.You can list the actions that take place in a scene.There are Arabic numerals for supporting details.This could include important information or information about side characters.There are lowercase letters for minor details.Characterization details might be included in the scene.
Step 16: Work to the end of the story.
This should be easy since you already have your story written.List your scenes according to where they happened.As you complete your outline, number each scene appropriately.
Step 17: Write a summary of each scene.
The main points in your plot outline will be made up of these.The story should include each scene.Try to fill the gap in your story.If you don't know how you're going to resolve it, include a main point stating what needs to happen to connect the plot points.
Step 18: If you want, you can flesh out your scenes.
If you do not want to include details in your outline, you don't have to.Depending on your writing style, it can make it easier to write your story later.List all the characters who are in the scene.Write out everything that happened in the scene.There are important details used for characterization.