A plan for a narrative begins with what the character wants and what stops them. Everything else, the actions, the turning point and the ending, grows from that.
This lesson is part of narrative composition. Examples are in Chinese, with English explanation.
What is the six-line plan?
Write one short line for each.
- Want: what the character wants.
- Obstacle: what stops them.
- Action: what they try.
- Turning point: the moment something changes.
- Result: what happens.
- Change: how the character, or their understanding, is different.
You can also fill the Chinese composition structure planner with these six lines.
Worked example: topic “一次难忘的经历”
List-style plan (weak): 早上去学校，下午比赛，晚上回家。This has time order but no problem.
Conflict plan (stronger):
- Want: 想在学校美术比赛中画外婆。
- Obstacle: 比赛前一晚，颜料被弟弟打翻了。
- Action: 没有颜料，只好改用铅笔。
- Turning point: 发现铅笔线条把外婆脸上的皱纹画得更清楚。
- Result: 作品得到老师称赞。
- Change: 明白了缺少材料不等于没有办法。
Each line leads to the next because of the obstacle. Remove line 2 and lines 3 to 6 lose their reason.
A short draft of the turning point: “我盯着那一管空了的颜料，忽然发现铅笔线条把外婆额头的皱纹画得一清二楚。” The moment is concrete and the change begins here.
The mistake that costs marks
The common slip is a plan where the obstacle is missing or too easy.
| Plan | Problem |
|---|---|
| “去旅行，玩得很开心，回家。” | No obstacle, so nothing to resolve. |
| “迷路了，马上找到路。” | Obstacle solved at once, with no struggle. |
| “迷路了，天快黑，手机没电，只好向摊贩问路。” | Obstacle grows, then the action solves it. |
If your turning point happens by luck, such as “突然有人来帮我”, rewrite it so the character’s own choice causes the change.
Check yourself
Make a six-line plan for the topic “一次考验”. Use a school setting.
Answer
One possible plan:
- Want: 想在班级朗诵比赛中读完整首诗。
- Obstacle: 上台后脑中一片空白。
- Action: 深呼吸，看向第一排的同学。
- Turning point: 想起练习时用的手势，手一抬，句子自然出来了。
- Result: 读完了，台下响起掌声。
- Change: 明白紧张时，熟悉的动作能帮忙。
Your plan may differ. Check that the obstacle comes before the action, that the turning point is caused by the character, and that the last line follows from the story.
What to study next
Continue with using meaningful detail rather than adjective lists, so your obstacle and turning point feel real. Review your finished plans with the mistake log and paper-error review.
To plan stories with a teacher, see online one-to-one Chinese tuition.