How to Write a Story Plot

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Part of the video series: Creative Writing Tips for Students & Teachers

Summary: Write a story plot by outlining a list of events that will lead to a climax, developing dynamic characters, starting at the end of the story and working towards the beginning. Create a plot, which is characterized as an arrangement of incidents, with this free video from a professional writer.

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By Laura Turner
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Laura Turner received her B.A. in English from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn., graduating magna cum laude with honors. She then attended the University of Nevada, Las...read more

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"Hi, this is Laura Turner and today we're going to talk about how to make a story plot. A plot is, as Aristotle says, the arrangement of the incidents in the story or a play. So think about your plot as being separate from the story that you're telling. Your plot is going to create your ultimate story. A tip for writing a plot is to start from the end and work your way back to the beginning because if you know where your going, you know how you have to get there. You maybe, you may find this easy, you may find this really hampering and strange to do, so, try it, try it from the front, down and then from the back, up and see which works better for you. But, to write a good plot, you have to make sure everything falls from each other. So you have to make sure that you can actually start at one place and end up where you want to be. Make an outline of your plot with a list of things that have to happen only. Don't hamper yourself with your plot when you're trying to write your story, but make sure that you are working toward that end. So try to accomplish in your chapter or your scene or your act, the things that need to happen in order to move the story forward and then fill in thing as you feel fit. Use characters who will get the plot moving. Characters who are dynamic and take action and characters who make things happen when they come into the plot. If your plot is not moving, like you feel it should be, it could be because your characters are not helping you with the action of it. And then finally, make sure all actions have a reaction or payoff, even if, the first sentence says in payoff until the last sentence of the story. If you'd learn something in the very first chapter of your story or the very first page of your story, if it's a short story; if it doesn't payoff until the very end, make sure that it at least pays off in some way that you have a end to your action; that something starts it and something ends it. And hopefully that'll help you get started with your story's plot."

eHow Article: How to Write a Story Plot