A simple way to outline a short story or novel

1. A simple way to outline a short story or novel Plot Line

2. Exposition… • This is the beginning of a story where the reader meets the characters • and learns the setting (time and place) • Once we have an understanding of the background, we learn the….

3. …the main conflict – or problem

4. “Oh, that is a major issue!” • Once the problem is learned at the end of the exposition, it tends to get more difficult in the……

5. …Rising Action • As the story moves on, the problem gets worse and worse. Tension builds as the protagonist struggles with an ever-increasing problem. • Things are looking pretty bad for the protagonist until the … “Oh, snap!”

6. Climax • When it seems that there is no way out of the situation, the protagonist makes a decision about what he or she is going to do about the problem. This is usually the most intense part of the story.

7. Once a decision has been made …we get to the…

8. …Falling Action • These are the one to three events that happen once a choice has been made about how the problem is going to be dealt with. *We learn if the solution was successful when we read on to the …

9. …Resolution • The reader has a pretty clear idea about what has happen as a result of the decision. The reader knows the outcome of the original problem (conflict).

10. Not all stories have a resolution – some end with annoying cliffhangers that leave one wondering about future events.

11. Here's a dorky example

12. Once upon a time there was a ten-year-boy who lived a fairly nice life on an Adirondack foothill farm. Although this boy was smart, it is important to know that he was as stubborn as they come. He was so stubborn in fact, that he earned the nickname “Mule” for his constant refusals to do even the simplest tasks. Exposition

13. End of exposition – conflict introduced • It was an early spring morning that “Mule” chose to have another battle. You see, his parents simply asked him tie up the laces on his shoes, as they were heading out to the chicken sheds to gather eggs for breakfast. In his nasally voice, Mule retorted, “No, no, no and no. Can’t make me do nothin, no!” • Name the conflict:

14. Rising Action • Defeated, his parents briskly headed toward the coops while Mule flopped along behind, his sneaks nearly coming off his feet as he tromped along. The shoe rubbed up and down, forming a watery blister on his heel.

15. Rising Action • The ground outside of the coop was a mud-hole worthy of making the sows jealous. The thick mud grabbed hold of Mule’s left shoe and ate it for breakfast. Mule was a little bummed, as he loved those kicks, and he stood, wondering how to retrieve it.

16. Rising Action • His parents, annoyed not only at his defiance, but at his slacking off as well, hollered for him to get a move on – they didn’t have all day, you know.

17. Rising Action • Mule, not wanting to please his parents by going through the door, climbed up through half-opened window. As he pushed off the sill to make a stellar entrance, he unprotected left foot found the one of the hundreds of rusty nails that held the shack together. Mule shrieked as that nail sunk into his foot a good two inches.

18. Rising Action • To add insult to injury, as the boy dropped in fetal position, cradling his foot to protect it from further injury, he landed in the worst possible spot. You see, it was just below that particular window that his parents pushed all of the chicken dung to use for compost. Mule found himself laying face-first in a fourteen inches of chicken poo!

19. Rising Action • His parents’ hollers dissolved into laughter as they watched white-yellow slime ooze up around the boy. The look on Mule’s face was priceless – surprise mixed with rage. “Amazing how the boy has to do things his own way, huh Ma?!”

20. Slipping and sliding, on his bottom more than his feet, Mule made his way out of the door and to the mud fields, where he searched for his sneaker. The shoe was easier to find than his pride, and he shoved it on his foot and securely fastened it on the his damaged foot. Climax

21. Falling Action • Mule limped to the back porch to where the garden hose lay. Under its freezing flow, he cleaned all sorts of nastiness off his skin and hair, then sat with his head in his hands. He noticed, with much disgust, that it would take more than water for that rancid odor to go away.

22. Resolution • Although there were many daily battles between parents and son, Mule always seemed to find the time to put on his sneakers when he headed out of the house, even if he didn’t put them on the correct way.

23. Let’s try to apply Decide on any interesting conflict – real or not Draw and label a basic plot line. Fill in information along the plot line as you make a story up – be sure to focus on one major conflict. There may be other conflicts as well. You may write the information in phrases (words) or choose to use simple pictures to tell your story. Make it fun! Finish this project for homework.