1. How to write a story
Story Structure

2. http://storybird.com/books/dad-brings-home-the-milk/#

3. Every story has a beginning, middle and an end.
1. Setting/Characters: (first paragraph(s))
This is where you describe where and when the
story takes place – introduce the main
character(s)
Meet the characters and discover the setting.
2. Problem/Complication (middle paragraph(s)
This is where you describe what happens to
create the problem for the main character(s).
There is a problem or complication, for example:
Someone is injured, threatened, kidnapped, etc.
Something is damaged, stolen, needs protection.
Someone has an emotional problem or a problem
with relationships. The tension rises and the

4. action increases each time the main character tries to
solve the problem.
3. Climax/Turning Point final paragraph(s)
This is where you describe what happens to solve, or to
start solving the problem. This is a turning point where
something finally solves the problem or starts to solve the
problem.
4. Resolution/Sorting out
This is where you explain how things turn out for the
characters at the end. We find out what happens to
everybody. Sometimes things are changed for ever and
sometimes life carries on just as it was before

5. Story structure: All good stories have a beginning, a
middle and an end.
1. Main character: every story starts with a main
character. It can be an animal, a person, or a
thing.
Who is your main character?
What does he, she or it like/dislike?
What is your character’s personality?
What does your character look like?
Draw the picture of your character.
2. Setting: Where does your story takes place? – in
space, in China, in your back yard, or somewhere
from your imagination?

6. When does the story take place: in the past, the
present or in the future?
Has the setting helped develop the main character’s
personality?
How does the setting help your main character’s
problem?
3. The Problem: What is the difficulty/hardship your
character must fight and overcome? When you give
your main character a problem to solve, your story
comes alive. Be sure to make it a big enough problem.
4. Rising Action (tension): Use conflict in your story.
Conflict means someone or something tries to stop
your character (the hero of the story) from solving the
problem. For example your character needs to
complete a science project, but his cousin comes as a

7. as a visitor or there is a tragedy he is having with
his girlfriend, he has an enemy from another class
who wants to steal his project plan. To keep the
story interesting, the more times your hero tries
and fails, the better it is for the reader to get
interested in your story.
What is your main character’s problem?
Is the problem big enough so that it will take a
whole story to solve it?
Do other characters help create the problem?
Does the setting influence the problem?
What steps does your hero take to try and fail to
solve the problem?
What does the main character do against the
negative forces?

8. Resolution (Conclusion): How does the main character
finally solve the problem? The story must have a
satisfying ending. The best ending is when the hero is
about to give up but solves the problem at the last
minute before a great disaster (tragedy) hits the story.
The main character’s solving the problem gives the
reader a relief (relaxation) after a long reading of
conflicting action going on and on which causes tension.
It is best if the story’s hero solves the problem on his or
her own or he/she sometimes takes help from one or
two of the other characters in the story.