👋 Hey everyone, it’s your friendly neighborhood writer here to talk about one of my favorite topics: mapping your story! As a writer, it can be tough to keep all the plot points and characters straight in your head. That’s why organizing your story is so important. In this blog post, I’ll be sharing some of my favorite tools and templates for mapping out your story.

What is Story Mapping?

First things first, let’s talk about what story mapping actually is. Story mapping is the process of visualizing the plot elements of your story. This can include things like characters, settings, conflicts, and resolutions. By mapping out these elements, you can get a better understanding of how they all fit together and make sure your story flows smoothly.

🎉 Fun Fact: Story mapping is a great way to break through writer’s block!

The Hero’s Journey Template

One of the most popular story templates is the Hero’s Journey. This template was popularized by Joseph Campbell and has been used in countless books and movies. The template consists of 12 stages, including things like the Call to Adventure, the Refusal of the Call, and the Ultimate Boon.

📷 A picture of the Hero's Journey template

Using the Hero’s Journey template can be a great way to ensure that your story has a strong structure and follows a logical progression. However, it’s important to remember that not all stories fit neatly into this template.

The Three-Act Structure

Another popular story template is the Three-Act Structure. In this template, the story is broken down into three parts: the Setup, the Confrontation, and the Resolution. Each part serves a different purpose and helps move the story forward.

📷 A picture of the Three-Act Structure template

The Three-Act Structure is a great template to use if you’re just starting out with story mapping. It’s simple to understand and can help ensure that your story has a clear beginning, middle, and end.

Mind Mapping

Mind mapping is a technique that involves creating a visual representation of the connections between different ideas. This technique can be applied to story mapping by creating a mind map of all the different elements in your story.

📷 A picture of a mind map for a story

To create a mind map for your story, start by writing the main plot elements in the center of the page. From there, create branches off of each element that represent the different sub-elements, such as characters, settings, and conflicts. This can help you see how all the different elements of your story connect to each other.

Using a Whiteboard

Sometimes, the best way to map out your story is to go old school and use a whiteboard. Whiteboards are great because they allow you to easily move elements around and see how they fit together.

📷 A picture of a whiteboard with story elements

To use a whiteboard for story mapping, start by writing the main plot elements on individual index cards. From there, you can move the cards around and group them together based on how they fit into the story. This can help you see how all the different elements of your story relate to each other and make sure your story flows smoothly.

🚀 And that’s it for my tips and tools for story mapping! I hope you found these ideas helpful. Remember, the most important thing is to find a technique that works for you and helps you stay organized. Happy writing!