You already know that a creative story has a beginning (B), middle (M), and end (E), but how do you make these three elements (BME) work to create a story? There are many ways to write a story and many different directions to take to fill in the BME, but this is just one way that lots of young writers USE: 1. Main Character; 2. Problem; 3. Solution. Main Character All stories must have characters, and your main character is the lead in your story, the one that things happen to, the one that experiences the story for the reader. Most writers like to write about the types of characters they like to read about. Do you know what type of character you like to read about in your favorite stories? Are they someone like you? Are they younger OR OLDER? HOW much younger or older? Are they creatures from outer space? Are they animals? Who are your favorite characters? Now, create one and give it a name.
Here are a few things most people would like to know about their character: what they look like AND where they live (perhaps this becomes the setting of your story). What type of personality does this character have, are they mean, funny, smart, helpful? What do you think? Now, you can begin your story by sharing with your readers who and what this character is like.
Make sure you ask yourself as many questions as you can to discover the real personality of this character. Include lots of details like what type of clothes he/she wears and what is his/her favorite color. The more details you put into developing your character, the more your character will come alive on the page. Problem A problem is one big thing that you need in your story. Exciting stories have interesting problems and exciting things that take place in the BME. How can you introduce a problem to your character? What type of problems could your character have? Sometimes the setting helps you discover the problem. Is your character in the woods or the city? Is the season in the setting in the cold, freezing winter or the hot and humid summer? Is your character at school, work, home, or on vacation? These setting clues help you to develop a problem for your character.
You need to think of one BIG problem your character will face in your story. As soon as you have decided on your BIG problem, you need to decide how your main character feels about this problem. How long has the problem been going on? Where did the problem begin? Is there anyone else involved with this problem? Will those new characters need to be in your story? Absolutely, but only if they can play a part IN EXPLAINING, experience, help, or fix the problem. Solution: If you have created an outstanding problem for your character, it will take some time to solve. Give your character three chances to solve the problem. One chance should be at the beginning of the story. It should be a simple solution that does not work. Remember to describe your character’s first attempt at solving the problem. Show why it does not work. How does this make your character feel? How will he/she come up with another solution?
The second chance should be more exciting and come in the middle of your story. Make it a fun solution that your character might have a ridiculous or silly outcome. Show why this solution did not work either. How does your character feel about this failure? The third chance should be challenging and focused and maybe even scary, but it works.
With this third attempt, take your time explaining the details; it builds tension in the story and makes it fun for the reader. This time you will have a very different response from your main character; how does he/she feel? What type of celebration takes place? Do not forget to give your story a title that hints at the problem but does not give it away.