What Is a Complication of a Story?

Have you ever read a narrative written by one of your students, only to discover that there is no complication? The complication of a story is the turning point where a problem or challenge arises, driving the action forward and keeping readers engaged. Without a strong complication, a narrative can be very dull indeed!

This short story writing project has been designed to support your students in understanding the important of a complication within narrative plot structure. To complete the project, students will read and analyze the short story, Spectacles Lost at Sea. They will then take a closer look at the text’s narrative elements (setting, characters, mood and plot tension) through a series of guided questions before planning a narrative of their own that changes the complication of the sample text. This structured support sets students up for success as they adapt an existing structure rather than inventing an entire plot.

The comprehensive student workbook contains everything your students need to adapt a short story by changing the complication. It includes:

• Instruction page
• Example short story, Spectacles Lost at Sea
• Guided analysis questions
• Compilation adaptation ideas
• Graphic organisers for plot and language planning
• Lined pages for drafting and editing
• Narrative writing checklist
• Assessment rubric

This ready-to-use creative writing project saves planning time by providing a comprehensive reading and writing activity in one easy download.

Improve Student Writing by Teaching the Complication of a Story 

The complication of a story is fundamental to any engaging narrative. This resource has been designed by our team to help your students write a story centered around an exciting and interesting complication through scaffolded support. Here’s what your students will learn as they participate in this reading and writing activity:

• Narrative elements –  Students will learn how the setting, characters, mood and plot tension work together to make a narrative text engaging for the reader.
• Critical comprehension –  Text analysis questions will guide students in exploring how authors use language to create settings, characters, mood and plot tension.
• Narrative structure –  By changing the complication, students will learn about the key role this narrative feature plays in the overall structure of the plot.
• Writing confidence – Because they are adapting an existing structure rather than inventing an entire plot, students will feel less overwhelmed during writing.

Download to Explore Story Complications

This project exploring the complication in a story contains everything your students need to produce an imaginative and well-structured narrative text. It downloads as an easy-print PDF or editable Google Slides file. Use the dropdown menu on the Download button to access your preferred version. (Note: You will be prompted to make a copy of the Google Slides template before accessing it).

For sustainability purposes, please consider printing this workbook double-sided.

More Resources for Teaching the Complication in a Story

Looking for more teacher-created, curriculum-aligned resources to use when teaching your students about narrative plot structure? Click below to explore a sample of our resources from our extensive library.

teaching resource

Plot Archetypes Booklet

Explore plot archetypes with this engaging 8-page mini book that helps students analyze familiar story structures.

teaching resource

Elements of Plot Teaching Presentation

Teach them to your students with a Plot Elements Teaching presentation.

teaching resource

Narrative Plot Structure Diagram

A plot diagram for students to refer to when planning narrative writing.