Writing: Descriptive and Narrative Writing (Advanced) (B2) - Lesson 3: Developing Characters and Plot More Thoroughly

B2 Lesson 3: Developing Characters and Plot More Thoroughly

You have learned to structure a story and create atmosphere. At this advanced level, we will learn how to make your narratives more compelling by developing a more complex plot¹ and more believable characters².

A good story is not just a sequence of events; it's about interesting characters overcoming a problem.

Part 1: Building a Better Plot

While a simple story has a beginning, middle, and end, a more developed plot has a clear problem that creates tension and excitement.

A Simple Plot Structure

1. Exposition: The beginning. Introduce the character and the normal situation.
2. Inciting Incident: The event that starts the problem or conflict.
3. Rising Action: The middle. The character takes steps to solve the problem.
4. Climax: The most exciting part, where the character faces the problem directly.
5. Resolution³: The end. The problem is solved, and we see the final outcome.

Part 2: Creating Believable Characters - "Show, Don't Tell"

The most important rule for character development is: Show, don't just tell. Don't tell your reader a character is brave; describe a brave action they take. You can show a character's personality through their...

• Actions: What does the character do?
• Dialogue: What does the character say?
• Thoughts: What is the character thinking or feeling?

Telling ❌:

The woman was very generous.

Showing ✅:

Even though she did not have much, the woman shared her small portion of rice with the hungry child.

✍️ B2 Advanced Story Checklist

• ✔️ Plot: Does my story have a clear problem (inciting incident⁴) and a climax⁵?
• ✔️ Character: Have I "shown" my character's personality through their actions, dialogue, or thoughts?
• ✔️ Pacing: Does the story build to the most exciting part?
• ✔️ Language: Have I used vivid descriptions and sensory details to build atmosphere?

🧠 Practice Quiz: Identify the Plot Point

Read the short story below and answer the question.

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(1) Srey was calmly walking home through the quiet streets after a long day at work. (2) Suddenly, she heard a faint meowing sound coming from a nearby storm drain. (3) She peered into the darkness and saw a tiny, trapped kitten. Without hesitating, she carefully reached down and gently lifted the frightened animal to safety.

Which sentence is the "Inciting Incident" (the event that starts the problem)?

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Answer: Sentence (2). Sentence 1 is the exposition (normal situation). Sentence 2 is the inciting incident—hearing the sound is what starts the story's action. Sentence 3 is the rising action and climax.

📝 Homework: Write a Complete Story

Your homework is to write a short story (2-3 paragraphs) with a more developed plot and character.

Choose ONE of the following scenarios:

• A character finds a lost wallet full of money. (What do they do? Does this show they are honest or dishonest?)
• A character is very nervous before giving an important presentation. (How do they overcome their fear?)
• A character is exploring a new part of their city and gets lost. (How do they find their way back? Does this show they are resourceful or easily panicked?)

Plan your story using the plot structure we learned. Focus on showing your character's personality through their actions and thoughts.

Vocabulary Glossary

1. Plot: (Noun) - ដំណើររឿង - The sequence of main events in a story. ↩
2. Character Development: (Noun Phrase) - ការអភិវឌ្ឍតួអង្គ - The process of creating a believable, three-dimensional character. ↩
3. Resolution: (Noun) - ការដោះស្រាយ - The end of the story where the main problem is solved. ↩
4. Inciting Incident: (Noun Phrase) - ព្រឹត្តិការណ៍ផ្តើមរឿង - The event that sets the main problem of the story in motion. ↩
5. Climax: (Noun) - ចំណុចកំពូល - The most intense, exciting, or important point of a story. ↩