Story mountain: plan a problem, a turning point and an ending

A story mountain is a planning diagram that follows a story from its beginning through a growing problem to a turning point and resolution. It helps you see whether events build towards an ending.

Before you start

A story can contain plenty of action yet feel as though nothing connects. A character finds a key, meets a dragon, gets lost and suddenly wakes up. These events do not change the same situation, so the reader cannot see how one leads to the next.

Use a story mountain to plan the relationship between events. The stages below are one useful version, not rules for every story. For a short practice narrative, keep the cast small and build around a problem you can resolve.

Step by step

  1. Beginning: establish a want

    Introduce a character, a setting and something the character wants. Give the reader enough information to understand the next event. A want such as returning a borrowed object gives later obstacles a clear meaning.

  2. Build-up: make the problem harder

    Choose events that affect the same goal. A failed attempt can reveal new information or increase the cost of waiting. Do not add an unrelated danger just because the story needs to become exciting.

  3. Turning point: make a choice matter

    Plan the moment when the character must act, decide or discover something that changes the situation. The character's earlier experiences should help explain the choice. A rescue that appears from nowhere gives them little role in the ending.

  4. Resolution: show the result

    Describe what happens because of the turning point. Resolve the central problem and show any change in the character or relationship. A resolution can be happy, disappointing or mixed, as long as it connects to the story.

Original story mountain: the borrowed compass

Practice prompt: A promise. A student has promised to return a borrowed compass before a class walk. This outline uses the mountain to track one goal.

Beginning

Ari checks the pocket where the compass should be. The class is leaving soon, and the friend who lent it is waiting.
Explanation. The opening names the goal and explains why it matters.

Build-up

Ari searches the desk and the bag without success. Then a memory of yesterday's model-making lesson points to the supply tray.
Explanation. The search fails, but the failure leads to useful information.

Turning point

The compass is in the tray, but its cover is cracked. Ari chooses to show the friend the damage instead of pretending it was already broken.
Explanation. The peak is a meaningful decision, rather than the loudest event.

Resolution

They arrange to repair the cover after the walk. Ari returns the compass and knows the apology mattered more than hiding the mistake.
Explanation. The ending answers the promise and the decision about honesty.

Make the mountain about change

For each planned event, finish 'Because this happens, the character now...'. If nothing changes, the event may belong in a shorter summary or may not belong at all.

Start with pictures of the beginning, problem and ending. To develop the plan, give Ari a choice with a cost. Telling the truth might risk the friendship, but hiding the damage could make the problem worse.

Plan the ending before adding obstacles

Write a rough resolution while the plan is still small. Then choose a build-up that prepares it. If the ending needs a spare key, a memory or help from another character, introduce that possibility earlier.

The diagram is not a paragraph map. One stage might take several paragraphs, while a brief transition might take one sentence. Use paragraph breaks to guide the reader through the actual action.

Try it yourself

Write about a character who must return something before the end of the day.

  1. Choose the object and explain why returning it matters.
  2. Plan two connected obstacles.
  3. Give the character a choice that changes the outcome.
  4. Write an ending caused by that choice.

Check your draft

Draw a line from each obstacle to the central goal. Replace any event that does not affect it.

Common questions

What are the stages of a story mountain?

Versions vary. This guide uses beginning, build-up, turning point and resolution. Other versions separate the build-up into problem and rising action, or add falling action after the peak.

Does the turning point need a battle or disaster?

No. A decision, discovery or admission can change a story. Its importance comes from its effect on the character's problem.

Is a story mountain the same as a story map?

A mountain follows the sequence and tension of events. A story map organises elements such as character, setting, problem and outcome. You can use a map to choose the elements before ordering them on a mountain.

Curriculum connection

These exercises practise planning, organising and revising written ideas. Australian Curriculum English includes creating texts for an audience and grouping related information into paragraphs. TEEL, PEEL and the other planning methods are teaching aids, not compulsory curriculum formats.

QCAA: Australian Curriculum v9.0 English, Year 3

Sources and further reading

These resources provide background on the skill. The examples and practice tasks above are original.

Write the story you have planned

Use a narrative prompt in NAPLAN Expert to turn your story mountain into a draft. Check that the turning point causes the ending.

Write from a story mountain

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Examples and activities are NAPLAN Expert teaching material. Sources checked in October 2026.