Every Story Needs a Who, a Where, and a Problem
A rabbit named Pip wanted to reach the big red apple at the top of the tree. But Pip was too small to climb! What did Pip do? That little story already has the three things every story needs. It has a WHO (Pip the rabbit). It has a WHERE (the apple tree). And it has a PROBLEM (Pip is too small). When you have those three, you have a story!
What You'll Learn
Today you will learn to: - Pick a WHO for your story (a person, animal, or thing). - Pick a WHERE your story happens. - Give your who a PROBLEM to solve. - Tell a tiny story out loud and draw it.
The Who
The WHO is your main character. It can be a kid, a puppy, a dragon, or even a talking spoon! Good writers give the who a name. 'A dog' is okay. But 'Buddy the dog' feels real. Names make readers care.
The Where
The WHERE is the place your story happens. Is it a beach? A castle? Under your bed? The where helps us SEE the story. A story in a dark cave feels very different from a story at a sunny park.
The Problem
The PROBLEM is what goes wrong. A story needs a bump! Maybe the cat is stuck. Maybe the ice cream fell. Maybe it started to rain. The fun part is watching the who FIX the problem. Pip the rabbit found a stick to knock the apple down. Problem solved!
Before you write, tell your story out loud like you are telling a friend. If it sounds fun to say, it will be fun to write!
Drag each story part to the right example.
Terms
Definitions
Drag terms onto their definitions, or click a term then click a definition to match.
Which one is the PROBLEM in a story?
Why do writers give a character a name like 'Pip'?
Draw Your Three-Part Story
Fold a paper into three boxes. In box 1 draw and name your WHO. In box 2 draw the WHERE. In box 3 draw the PROBLEM. Then tell your story out loud to a grown-up: who it is about, where it happens, and what goes wrong. Deliverable: one folded paper with three drawings, and a story told out loud to someone.
Flashcards — click each card to reveal the answer
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