While taking a workshop with author Janice MacDonald on developing a traditional fiction story plot (the kind with a beginning, middle and end), I decided to modify one of the templates that came with my Pages program into a set of worksheets. These worksheets can help you outline your fiction plot and [...]]]>

While taking a workshop with author Janice MacDonald on developing a traditional fiction story plot (the kind with a beginning, middle and end), I decided to modify one of the templates that came with my Pages program into a set of worksheets. These worksheets can help you outline your fiction plot and determine the story structure. I’m also a big fan of John Truby’s 22 Building Blocks structure to plot development and try to integrate his screenplay plot development into my fiction writing.

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The first two are blank worksheets. You can copy them, fill them in, cut them up, move things around. Use them as you wish. There’s a place at the top for the name of novel or chapter and for defining the genre and the characters involve or whatever works for you. You may want to read some of the other posts on various ways to approach plot and motivation. You can then work with the blank storyboards in developing the internal and external events.

Novel Storyboard Worksheet PDF
Chapter Storyboard Worksheet PDF
The thirds worksheet is my own creation from the various things I’ve learned about the traditional story structure. I want to give a big thanks to Janice MacDonald who clarified a create deal with her own plot grid. It’s the basis for my small variations.

Fiction Writing Plot Development Storyboard

While the storyboard is designed for the typical 20-chapter genre novel, simply expand the number of chapters between the Plot Points and the Crisis to meet your needs. The last page of the storyboard contains with a basic summary of a traditional novel plot structure as well as 10 Question For Developing Your Plot which help you determine the internal motivation and well as the strongest conflicts confronting your primary character or protagonists. (Actually, if you can answer these questions for your secondary characters, you have an even stronger plot.)

I recently came across a new book on fiction writing and plot development that seemed to be speaking to me and the 4 unfinished novels cluttering up my hard drive at the moment. It gives you specific tasks and psychological techniques to get past key problems that stop your story structure, block your plot points and flatten your story arc as well as all those negative thoughts that creep in. I’ve taken to writing post-it notes with quotes from the book and pasting them on my monitor, fridge, mirrors and so on.

For more details about using the Fiction Writing Plot Development Storyboard check out
Traditional Fiction Writing Story Arc
in the category Writing How-To, Fiction Writing.