Did you know that stories grow like plants? At least fruitful stories that grow in the hearts of your readers do. When I do author visits to schools, churches, or homeschool groups, I am sometimes asked to conduct a writing workshop. That’s when Little Pot and I use these story writing resources and share the seven ways a story grows as a plant. A more detailed version of the process can be found here. In the meantime, I’ll give the seven steps to ponder.

First, you should know that even though plants come in different shapes, sizes, smells, and feels, they all need the same things to grow. Likewise, stories are all different but still need the same things to grow. The seven things a good story needs are:

1. the setting
2. the main character with an obvious and a hidden need
3. an inciting incident
4. the rising action and two-fold events
5. climax
6. unexpected surprise
7. conclusion and a fruitful lesson

The setting is the soil

The soil and pot is the place where a plant can grow. Likewise, the setting is the place your story will grow. When you begin to write a story, consider the time, place, mood, culture, and climate. If you are a good writer your soil or setting will help your writing grow into a strong and healthy story.

The main character with obvious and hidden needs is the seed

Seeds get planted into the soil, just as characters are planted into the setting. Usually, many seeds are planted. We will just follow the journey of one seed, however. This seed is going to be our main character. Every main character must have an obvious and a hidden need. A seed needs water and sunlight. The water will represent our character’s obvious need. Water is clear and visible. Therefore, when you think about this need, you should make it clear and visible to your reader. It is good to just say it in your text. The hidden need is represented by the sunlight. It is not quite as obvious. We do not look directly at the sun. We simply know it’s there and feel its effects. The hidden need is the same. It is not something that you need to write in the story. However, as your reader learns about the main character, they will discover that he/she has this need. It is usually an emotional or spiritual need that everyone has. This need helps your reader identify with the main character.

The Inciting Incident is when the seed bursts open

At the beginning of every story, we see the main character’s world drastically change. This is similar to when a seed first opens, forms roots, and sprouts into a plant. The seed is no longer a seed. This event has changed it into something new and the plant is rising upward. This event in your story will make your character into something new and set the trajectory of your narrative. Your story will begin the rising action.

Two-fold events and leaves

As a plant rises, leaves form. Leaves have two sides. Therefore, the leaves represent events in your story. Each event should also have two sides. They have a good or positive side and a bad or negative side. A plant can grow many leaves, just as your story may have many events. It is good, however, to create three main events in your story. Maybe because God is three persons, or maybe there is another reason. Regardless, stories that contain three good and bad events leave us with a feeling of completeness.

The climax or receptacle

After the leaves have formed, a plant grows something hard and ugly. In the world of horticulture, this is known as a receptacle and requires a natural phenomenon to open. In your writing, this event is a hard and ugly moment for your character. It is as if there is no way out of the situation and a miracle must occur for it to unfold.

An unexpected surprise unfolds

Quite unexpectedly the receptacle opens to a beautiful flower. Just as in your story, the climax surprisingly unfolds into a splendid outcome. Another character that your reader thought was gone forever might return to save the day. Whatever ‘opens’ up at this point in your story should be shocking and surprise your readers.

A fruitful lesson is learned

Your story is not over just yet. Now is when the flower of the plant produces its fruit. At this point, your story’s flowery ending will be able to produce new stories. The reader will see that both the hidden and obvious needs of your main character are met. They’ll be delighted with how your character grew and changed. In addition, they’ll be anxious to read another story that grows from inside this fruitful ending.

You can purchase posters for these seven steps, a PowerPoint lesson, and a workbook to practice writing your stories at my Teachers Pay Teachers Store.

This blog was created by Dawn Stephens. If you are interested in more resources to help your children learn about the Bible and become fruit-bearing vessels sign up here.

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