Think of Your Story like a Sandwich
In this post, I provide visual way to think about your story while discussing important elements of Picture Book Plot.
I am a visual and tactile learner—meaning, I learn best if I can visualize something or if I can get my hands messy and involved in the process of learning. Sometimes, that can be a challenge when I’m struggling to revise or write a story. Many moons ago I had a teacher who recommended thinking about stories like a sandwich. I’ve recently shared this concept with some clients and they found it useful, so I thought I’d share it with you, too!
Think of your story as a sandwich—the tasty bits are in the middle, but it all falls apart if you don’t have a solid top and bottom holding it together!
To hone your story-telling craft, spend time first with the top of your sandwich (the beginning), then with the bottom of your sandwich (the ending). Once you’ve done that, move on to the juicy stuff in the middle. Before you take a bite (and read the whole thing), reassess the top and bottom layers—maybe they need “toasting” to give it more foundation!
If you’re struggling with your plot, keep reading and try this exercise. When you’re finished, see if you can visualize your story as a sandwich—does it look appetizing? Do you want to take a bite out of it? I hope so. But if not, be like your MC and try, try again!
To keep you on track, write down what your Main Character (MC) wants more than anything.
Your Top Slice of Bread—it’s the first thing you see when you look down at the sandwich on your bread. If it isn’t appetizing, you won’t want to eat the sandwich. Write 5–8 different opening lines.
Your Bottom Slice of Bread—it’s holding it all together; if it’s soggy, it’ll ruin your sandwich—make it satisfying! Write 3–5 possible endings.
All The Juicy Bits—these are all the delicious details that make your story worth eating (reading)! Write 5–10 obstacles your MC might face while working toward their end goal.
Now you’ve got the makings of a delicious sandwich, but before you take a bite, you need to choose the best tops and bottoms so it doesn’t go soggy.
Look back at your options for the beginning and ending. Pick your 5 favorite opening lines and your 3 favorite endings. Mix and Match these to find the best sandwich vessel. Do some work better than others? Can you articulate why? (Try!)
Look back at your possible obstacles. Can any of them be lumped together (e.g., they’re so similar that reallythey’re the same thing)? Write them down.
Choose 3 ingredients for the bulk of your sandwich. These are the obstacles that you like best and that make the most sense given your chosen beginning and ending (maybe these are the silliest, maybe they build the most tension). Write them down.
Now, assemble your sandwich (write it all together). Congratulations! You’ve got a Work in Progress (WIP)!
If you prefer to hand-write a first draft, print out my Picture Book Plot Development Worksheet (it’s free!).
Think you’re ready for another set of eyes? Check out my services or contact me to find an editing package that works for you.
