How to develop your story

Developing your storyline is more than just including a vague main event. Learn a process to develop your storyline so you can consistently write interesting stories with meaning.

1. Plan – start from the end and work backwards. Avoid distractions.
2. Check for logical flow

Steps in story development

For a 4-paragraph story:

1. Introduction (setting / characters)
2. Lead up to main event
3. Main event
4. Resolve

For a 5-paragraph story:

1. Introduction (setting / characters)
2. Lead up to main event
3. Main event / lead up
4. Main event / wind down
5. Resolve

Examples

Watch video to see worked example/s for the following image prompts:

Topic	Story development
	A wombat who lives deep in the woods aims to cross the train line to the other side > makes way to crossing > nearly gets run over > finally crosses. For the additional paragraph (5-paragraph piece), it would be good to do the “nearly gets run over part” across 2 paragraphs to really show the drama.
	Preparing for rowing competition > practice drill > refining technique > personal best achieved and ready to tackle the race. For the additional paragraph (5-paragraph piece), it would be good to do the “refining technique” across 2 paragraphs to really show the intensity of training on the lake.
	At "Death Adda" concert > sees mosh pit > carried in mosh pit > out of mosh pit. For the additional paragraph (5-paragraph piece), it would be good to do the “carried in mosh pit” across 2 paragraphs to really show danger.
	In the middle of the CBD > Navigating through map > Loses map > Doesn’t care, explores without map. For the additional paragraph (5-paragraph piece), it would be good to do the “loses map” across 2 paragraphs to really show panic and a change in perspective.

Key rules to remember

• Development is tied heavily to your plan – check for logical flow.
• Start from the end, if you’re struggling with starting at the beginning.
• One paragraph should link to the next seamlessly.

Practice time!

Now, it's your turn to practice.

The questions in this checkpoint are provided to help you develop your writing skills.

To do your practice questions, click on the below to download your question paper. You can print it out or work from the electronic version. We do recommend that you write your answers by hand in a notebook or on paper.

NW-CP9-Questions.pdf

Once you have completed your questions, review the suggested solutions. You can download (and print if you wish) the PDF suggested solutions and/or watch the suggested solutions video (all below).

Once you're done with reviewing the practice question suggested solutions, move on to the next checkpoint.

NW-CP9-Answers.pdf

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