The Basic Plot

One of the first things it’s important to know about plotting is that every story needs a beginning, a middle, and an ending. Yes, this may seem very rudimentary, but it’s surprising the number of times writers start a story with an exciting idea, but never know how to move it effectively into the middle. Another trap writers often face is to get lost in the muddle of the middle and now know how to bring a story to an effective end.

A beginning. A middle. An ending. That’s the basic on plot. Pure and simple.

Just identifying these three key elements of your children’s story will help your manuscript automatically get off to a great start.

Three questions to help you identify the basics of your plot include:

1. How does the story start?

2. What happens in the middle?

3. How does the story end?

Strengthen Your Writing Muscles

If you’d like a simple writing exercise, look above at the picture of the sheep. If you were going to tell a story about them to a child, how would your story start? (Where are the sheep coming from?) What would happen in the middle? (Where are these sheep going?) How would your story end? (What will happen when they get there?) Write down your ideas.