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Use this story map template to learn the elements of a book or story. It is a graphic organizer, where you can identify story characters, plot, setting, challenges, and motivation of the main character, obstacles he/she encounters, and how he surpasses them.
To name your story, you have to think about the overall message and what you want your audience to understand from the story. Also, make it relevant and easy to remember.
The ending of a story is essential. We all know that if the ending is weak, what happened before loses its importance. So make it unpredictable, but fair. A resolved ending answers all the questions and ties up any loose threads from the plot.
This is the closure section of the story.
See examples of possible outcomes below:
Try answering these questions to come up with a closure:
- Have all the problems been solved?
- Is there a clear picture of what happens with each character in the story?
- Has the challenge transformed your main character?
- How do the characters feel in the end?
This is the moment when the main character surpasses the last obstacle and finally faces their greatest challenge.
The climax usually follows one of these patterns:
Type in your answer.
The middle of the story is where you add layers of complications that will lead to the end. Reveal more about the character's journey. Did their personality go through changes? How did they overcome the challenges? And as you build up the story’s central conflict, make it more personal to that character. Also, from the middle act, you have to lead into the final act.
There wouldn't be any tension and excitement in your story if there weren't any obstacles in your character's way.
A story is nothing more than a character overcoming a series of difficulties to reach the desired goal. Obstacles usually create suspense and conflict. In overcoming obstacles, there is growth: weak becomes strong; hatred turns into love; sadness into happiness; wrong into right; lies into truth; or evil becomes good.
See a few examples below:
Obstacles
Your character(s) need(s) motivation in order to solve the challenge(s).
Secondary characters might also have motives that lead them to cross paths with the main character or which might trigger them to help the main character.
Why does your character need to confront this challenge? What does he/she expect to accomplish by solving it?
See a few examples:
Motivation
Each story has a main character and that character usually needs to solve a problem or challenge. The character's challenge is the one that creates tension throughout the story.
Type in any other challenges which other characters in the story need to face.
Other challenges
In most stories, there are 3 challenges. The number 3 is a mystical number symbolizing completeness. Try to come up with interesting challenges with which your character needs to struggle.
See a few examples below:
Challenges
In the beginning of the story (or the exposition), you will need to introduce the setting and characters. You might also want to introduce the main conflict. This part of the story is important because it gives the reader necessary background information and maybe even a first insight into a character’s personality.
The setting (time & place) of a story can change throughout the plot.
Sensory details include sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste. These details are important because they create depth in your setting.
See a few examples below:
Sensory details
The weather is an important element in your story because it can highly influence the ambiance and the mood of the characters.
Catastrophic event
Does your story include catastrophic weather? See a few suggestions below or add your own:
- hurricane, earthquake, storm, etc
The time of the story can also change. It can describe the event of a single day or can include an entire year's plot. Anyway, don't forget to mention it.
Time of plot
Your story can take place wherever your imagination will take you to.
For example: in an elevator, in an enchanted forest, etc. Don't forget to give details of the environment each time the setting changes, otherwise, the story can be confusing. Also, mention the seasons as each of them has unique weather and events.
Location
Characters are essential to a good story. Usually, the protagonist(s) is/are the most affected by the plot. Introduce a character by focusing on their actions, interests, and occupation, as the physical appearance doesn't make a difference in most cases.
Type in the name of your character.
Other
Add other qualities/attributes of the character.
Main Goal
What is your character's main goal?
Character traits
Which traits best describe the character's personality? Choose more if necessary:
Type of character
Choose the type of your chacter:
Mind maps help you brainstorm, establish relationships between concepts, organize and generate ideas.
However, mind map templates offer an easier way to get started, as they are frameworks that contain information about a specific subject with guiding instructions. In essence, mind map templates ensure the structure that combines all the elements of a specific subject and serves as a starting point for your personal mind map. They are a resource for providing a practical solution to create a mind map on a particular topic, either for business or education.
Mindomo brings you smart mind map templates that allow you to function and think effortlessly.
Descriptive topics
Topics with background text
Default branch
Removing the template data
You can choose from a variety of mind map templates from Mindomo's business or educational accounts, or you can create your own mind map templates from scratch. Any mind map can be transformed into a mind map template map by adding further guiding notes to one of its topics.
