Every good story has three parts: a beginning, a middle and an end. When you plan these three parts first, your writing flows like a river.
Why this matters: A story with a clear shape is easy to read and fun to follow. Readers love to meet someone, worry about a problem, and cheer when it is solved.
The three parts of a story
| Part | What happens |
|---|---|
| Beginning | Meet the character. Show where they are. |
| Middle | A problem happens. Things go wrong. |
| End | The problem is solved. The story finishes. |
An interesting opening
Do not begin with "One day I woke up." Try to grab your reader on the very first line. Start with a sound, a feeling, or an action.
Boring: One day Zayd went outside.
Better: Bang! The football smashed straight through the shed window, and Zayd froze.
Better: Bang! The football smashed straight through the shed window, and Zayd froze.
Time words join your story
Time words tell the reader when things happen, like stepping stones through your writing: first … then … after that … finally.
Put Aisha's story in order:
- Aisha found a lost kitten
- She gave it some milk
- She made a poster
- The kitten's owner knocked at the door and smiled
Plan your problem and your solution before you write. A story is more exciting when something goes wrong and the character makes it right.