a short
story
Created by Caitlin Allgood 2017 Your Best Draft
a short story
Use the following graphic organizers to help you develop ideas,
characters, setting, conflict, and resolution for your short story.
Brainstorming:
The first day of school
A family vacation
Adopting a new pet from the shelter
Making the playoffs in a sports competition
Entering a school talent show
Directing/starring in the school play
Finding a mysterious love note
A new student comes to class
Going on a camping trip
Throwing a surprise party
Moving to a new town
Asking your crush to the school dance
Getting your first afterschool job
...
Created by Caitlin Allgood 2017 Your Best Draft
Brainstorming:
Look at your brainstorming topics and decide on the topic that interests you the
most. Using the word web below, brainstorm main ideas/events (based on your
topic) in the square boxes. In the accompanying circles, jot down any associations
you can think of from the ideas in the squares.
:
Created by Caitlin Allgood 2017 Your Best Draft
THE EXPOSITION:
,
,
characters:
’
setting:
The Exposition of a story reveals the characters, the setting, and the conflict.
Decide who your main characters will be, where and when the story will take place,
and what conflict (purpose of the story) will occur.
: what significance does he/she bring to the
story? (main character, antagonist, etc.) what
character or event is he/she associated with?
: What does he/she look like? How old is
he/she? How does he/she act? Does he/she experience a
character change in the story? (badgood, growth, etc.)
Where does the story take place? What is the location like? urban/rural, futuristic/past. . .what are the people like?
Cultures, religions, morals. . .When does the story take place?
conflict: What is the main conflict of the story? What will your main character(s) have to overcome? Give your character a purpose
Created by Caitlin Allgood 2017 Your Best Draft
THE EXPOSITION:
The Exposition of a story should always introduce the characters, the setting, and reveal the conflict. There are
several techniques for creating a successful exposition. Here are some ideas of how you could start your story:
One of the most successful ways to begin a story is to throw your reader right into
the middle of the action. Have your story begin as your characters are in the middle
of doing something. What that “action” is is up to you, but make sure it is interesting!
Set up your story by telling your reader where the story is taking place.
Describe your main character. Tell us who the story is going to be about and
what his or her purpose will be.
Created by Caitlin Allgood 2017 Your Best Draft
Created by Caitlin Allgood 2017 Your Best Draft
THE rising action:
The Rising Action is a series of events that complicate the conflict and ultimately lead to the climax/greatest
interest of the story. One way to create rising action, is by starting with events that could occur in your story, and
deciding how each event would affect the conflict. This will help lead you to a climax and then to a resolution. :
what is this
important moment or
event?
: What will happen during this event
or Moment? Who is involved? What has to happen
before this Moment?
: how will this moment or event affect the
conflict? (this event or moment should either cause a
problem or help a character or characters)
Using your notes on rising action, continue to write your story on the following pages
Created by Caitlin Allgood 2017 Your Best Draft
Created by Caitlin Allgood 2017 Your Best Draft
Created by Caitlin Allgood 2017 Your Best Draft
Created by Caitlin Allgood 2017 Your Best Draft
Created by Caitlin Allgood 2017 Your Best Draft
Created by Caitlin Allgood 2017 Your Best Draft
THE climax, falling action, and resolution:
?
The Climax is the turning point in the plot that the entire story has been leading up to. This is the “peak” moment
when the reader will soon find out how the story will be resolved. The climax should make the reader say, “What is
going to happen?!” A good way to remember this moment is thinking of a scary movie when the “bad guy” has
cornered the main character in the corner. This is the climax because it has you on the edge of your seat asking
what is going to happen? The Falling Action wraps up any questions still left unanswered. Finally, the Resolution
completes all of the action which brings the story to a satisfying end.
climax:
: Who is involved in
the climax?
: describe the situation. How will this
situation have an effect on the conflict of your
story?
: most importantly, how will the conflict
resolve? Answer the reader’s question, “What is going
to happen?!”
Falling action and resolution:
Are there any other questions or moments that have been left unanswered? Here is where you will wrap up any loose ends.
Using your notes on climax, falling action, and resolution, finish writing your story on the following pages
Created by Caitlin Allgood 2017 Your Best Draft
Created by Caitlin Allgood 2017 Your Best Draft
Created by Caitlin Allgood 2017 Your Best Draft