How to Use Social Media Arcs

Doug Bayliss

April 25, 2026

cats on a digital highway adventure
Share Article

Before this year, I posted on social media without a clear structure, which lead to scattered engagement and little follow-through. But now, I’m trying something new. Using Whiskers Goes to School as an example, each post becomes part of a larger narrative thread, giving my audience something recognizable .


Whiskers Goes to School 9-Part Social Media Story ARC


Proposed ARC Sequence

1 — Scene Hook

lily
The bus ride was loud.
But Lily wasn’t listening.
She focused on her backpack.

2 — Hidden Secret

lily fearful
Something moved inside Lily’s bag.
She held it tighter.

3 — Character Dynamic

lily whispers to max
“Rule number one, ”Lily whispered. “No one sees what’s hiding in our bags.”

4 — Humor + Tension

max whispers to lily
“Rule number two,” Max said.
“No chaos.” — a tiny sneeze

5 — Mystery Tease

the twins find zoe in lily's bag
Zoe didn’t return home.
She was going to school.

6 — School Setting Contrast

lily and max in school
Normal class.
Normal desks.
Not a normal book bag.

7 — Rising Trouble

zoe is floating beads behind teacher's back

For a few minutes—
Everything was fine.
Then the teacher brought out the beads.


8 — Reaction (Kid Energy)

Laughter spread across the room.Hands over mouths.Eyes wide.Something wasn’t right—and everyone saw it.

Laughter spread across the room.
Hands over mouths.
Eyes wide.
Something wasn’t right—
Everyone saw it.


9 — Soft Sell (Playful Close)

the twins and zoe

Keeping a secret is hard.
Keeping a magical one?
Almost impossible.



Good luck and happy posting!


Selected essays, short works, and publications: bayliss.com

Silhouette of children and a small dinosaur walking along a pond. From Indie author Doug Bayliss.

Written by Doug Bayliss

Pet health and.adoption advocate.

View all posts →