FICTION

It takes various forms, from written works like novels and short stories to live performances like plays
and musicals, and even films and video games.
It takes various forms, from written works like novels and short stories to live performances like plays
and musicals, and even films and video games.

THE MAIN TYPES OF FICTION:

FLASHFICTION- 250 to 1,000 words
● A condensed form of short story
● Can talk about universal truths in as few words as possible
SHORT STORY- 2,000 to 6,000 words, or at least eight pages.
● Limits the possibilities of character, plot, and conflict development
NOVELLA- 50 to 100 pages
● Offers greater possibilities for character and theme development.
● Novella writers can move backward in time for added exposition.
NOVEL- No definite length, but typically more than 200 pages.
● Involves multiple characters and secondary stories or subplots.
In Summary… Fiction is a product of imagination which tries to reimage the real world into a different
one in the writer’s head.

THE INGREDIENTS OF A GREAT FICTION (PART 1)

1. SETTING- The setting establishes not only the time and location where the story takes place, but also
the world or universe where the story revolves around.
• It sets the mood of the story and triggers a wide range of emotions in certain characters.
EXAMPLE: A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away….
THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF SETTING
Physical World: The physical features of the place where the characters live, with each
feature having some significance to the story and the development of the characters.
Characters Revealed by the Setting: A change in surroundings influences
your character’s personality, ideals, and emotions. (Think of how Simba left Pride Rock and embraced
Hakuna Matata). Settings Revealed by Characters: The writer does not intently describe
the setting of the story. Instead, the characters provide clues as to the nature of the setting.
Plot Assisted by the Setting: In some cases, stories and
plots can only occur in specific places. Traditions and physical nature (i.e. river, forest, etc.) can
sometimes create conditions that directly affects the plot.
Atmospheric Setting: The atmosphere of a story heavily relies on how the description is provided. (Light
= full of life, dark = foreboding).
Theme Revealed by the Setting: Some skillful writers use the setting to introduce the theme of the
story. Dark clouds may signify troubles and challenges to the character’s life.
 2. CHARACTERS
• Giving life to the story,
characters are categorized into major and minor personalities. • They have a
unique set of traits, habits, beliefs, and ideals, all of which can be implied through the characters’
actions. •
Characterization is how the character is introduced in the story.
Character Roles in Fiction
Protagonist: Not necessarily a knight in shining armor, but a personality whose attitudes and ideals
change as the story progresses.
Antagonist: The villain whose goal it is to destroy the hero or make life harder for everyone else in the
story.
Anti-hero: A morally ambiguous character who lacks heroic characteristics and ideals. (Think of
Deadpool, The Punisher, and Captain Jack Sparrow).
Love Interest: The protagonist’s object of desire serving as a source of emotional relief or motivation to
grow.
Confidant: The sidekick who follows and assists the protagonist in his journeys.
Deuteragonists: A type of confidant who develops in his own way.
Tertiary Characters: Serving as extras, these characters populate the world of your protagonist, but they
have no direct impact on the main storyline.
Foil: A character whose qualities are the direct opposite to that of the main character.
Dynamic Character: A character who changes over the course of the narrative. Often transform for the
best or for the worst.
Round Character: A character with complex personalities and motivations who show a willingness (or an
unwillingness) to change.
Static Character: Also known as a flat character, a static character does not noticeably change over time.
Symbolic Character: Any character who symbolizes a theme or major idea.

THE INGREDIENTS OF GREAT FICTION (PART 2)

3. POINT OF VIEW
• Pertains to the lens that the author provides so that they will see the story in a particular view and
angle.
• Establishes who is telling or narrating the story.
• When determining a point of view, think about your purpose or intention. Deciding on which
POV to use could either strengthen your story or confuse your readers.
TYPES OF POV
• First Person: As the most personal type of POV, firstperson
narrations use the pronoun I and other firstperson pronouns, allowing for a narration that is highly
subjective and, in some way, biased in favor of the character telling the story.
• Second Person: A rare type of POV, the
secondperson perspective provides a different form of intimacy by addressing the reader directly (‘you’)
as if the reader is a participant of the story. • Third Person: The most common type
of POV, third-person perspectives address the characters using third-person pronouns. The story is told
through a narrator, who could be objective, limited, or omniscient.
1. Objective: The narrator knows
what’s happening but lacks insight into the mind of the characters. 2. Limited: The narrator
has deeper knowledge about a character’s innermost thoughts.
3. Omniscient:
The narrator knows about the events of the story as well as the thoughts and motivations of characters.

4. PLOT
•
As the foundation of your story, the plot is the sequence of events through which your story is
developed.
• The plot is not the story itself. The plot focuses on causality or how certain events lead to another set
of events.
• According to novelist Edward Morgan Foster: “’The King died, and the queen died,’ is a story. ‘The King
died and then the queen died of grief,’ is a plot.
• A plot can be linear and episodic.
• A linear plot starts with exposition and follows a string of events leading to a definite climax and
conclusion.
• An episodic plot consists of several plots that are tied up into a single theme.
Examples include television shows and Netflix series where each episode tells a different story but are
closely related to the overall plot.
ADD A TOUCH OF DRAMA WITH CONFLICT
Character vs Character: Protagonist vs Antagonist Ex. Les Misérables, James Bond films
Character vs Society: Struggling in an unjust world Ex. American Psycho, Dystopian novels like
The Hunger Games
Character vs Nature: Struggling with the natural environment Ex. 127 Hours, The Martian, Gravity
Character vs Technology: The struggle between human freedom and technological advancement Ex.
2001: A Space Odyssey, The Matrix, I Robot
Character vs The Supernatural: Combating otherworldly forces Ex. The Exorcist, It, In the Mountains of
Madness
Character vs Fate: Man’s desire (and failure) to overcome fate and God Ex. The Stranger by Albert
Camus, Macbeth, The Godfather, Oedipus Rex
Character vs Self: Struggling with one’s principles (internal conflict) Ex. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor
Dostoevsky, Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
A STANDARD PLOTLINE
- Beginning/Exposition A normal day for the character (introduction of the setting and background
information)
- Rising Action Character’s normal life is disrupted and is launched into the conflict of the story.
- Climax The turning point in the character’s journey; the peak of danger and suspense.
- Falling Action The beginning of the end of the story in which the conflict subsides.
- Denouement The problem is resolved and the loose ends are tied up.
FAMOUS PLOT STRUCTURES
- EXPOSITION: The introduction to a story, including primary characters names, setting, mood, and time.
- RISING ACTION: The hero experiences success and good fortune.
- CLIMAX: The hero makes a fatal decision point of no return.
- FALLING ACTION: The hero faces the consequences of ther decision fall from grace.
- RESOLUTION: Catastrophe- Death or Disaster

1. They are in a zone of comfort

2. But they want something
3. They enter an unfamiliar situation
4. Adapt to it
5. Get what they want
6. Pay a heavy price
7. Then return to their familiar situation
8. Having change
KISHOTENKETSU STRUCTURE
KI (Introduction)
Sho (Development)
Ten (Twist)
Ketsu (Conclusion)
SEVEN- POINT STRUCTURE
- The Hook
- First Plot Point
- Pinch Point 1
- Midpoint
- Pinch Point 2
- Second Plot Point
- Resolution

VOICE, STYLE, AND THEME

As a writer, one of your goals is to entertain your readers. But that’s not your only, most important goal.
You also need to share a part of yourself through your writing.
Voice- This is the attitude or personality you bring to the story. It can be your voice as the author and
the voice of each character.
Voice has two characteristics: Distance Voice and Close Voice
Distance Voice uses direct and accurate language that lacks emotion. It is characterized by smooth-
flowing sentences and less connotative words. It’s usually used by the narrator to describe the events
and actions.
Close Voice is used for character-driven stories and for stories that involve significant character
development and emotion. Close Voice is highly descriptive and reveals the deeper emotions and
insights your characters have.
STYLE is how you say what you say. It makes your writing uniquely yours. Your readers could guess that
you’re the writer when they read the text of your story.
THEME- According to Dean Koontz, the theme of a story is astatement, or series of relevant
observations, about some aspects of the human condition, interpreted from the unique viewpoint of the
author. Unlike all the other elements of fiction, the theme will remain as the central message of a story.

DRAMA
Thought to have originated in Greece 2,500 years ago, drama is a literary work that’s intended to be
presented on a stage in front of an audience or a group of audience.

Derived from the Greek word “draw” which means to do or to act, drama contains the
elements of characters, plot, and dialogue.
Theater (from the Greek word “theasthai” for behold) is the actual
production and it the enactment and interpretation of the written material.
The Elements of Drama
THEME- The main idea of the play.
CHARACTERS- People or
animals portrayed by the characters. PLOT- Everything
that’s happening on the play.
MUSIC/RHYTHM- Musicality that establish the mood of a play.
DIALOGUE- Storylines spoken by the characcters.
SPECTACLE- Visual elements of a play.

Convention- The different types of methods and techniques used by the director to create a specific
style or effect.
Genre- Plays can be categorized into different genres such as tragedy, comedy, mystery, and historical
types.
Audience- The aim of writing drama is to strike an emotional chord in your audience.

Technical Elements of a Play

Set/Scenery: Technical equipment such as curtains, flats, backdrops.
Costumes: Clothing and accessories.
Props: Movable objects that appear on stage.
Lights: Choice of colors and placements.
Sound: Establishing the setting through sound design
and music. Makeup: Cosmetics and prosthetics used to enhance a
person’s image. Performance Elements of a Play
Acting: The use of body, face, and voice
to portray a certain role or character Character Motivation: The force that
influences the behavior of the character Character Analysis: The
process used in evaluating how the elements in drama/play are used to create impact on the audience.
Empathy: How you relate
to the experiences of other people TYPES OF DRAMA
Tragedy-
Tragedy depicts sadness, human sufferings, and misfortunes. (Examples: Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet)

Musical Drama- Instead of pure dialogue, a musical drama communicates the storyline through dancing
and singing. (Examples: Ang Huling El Bimbo, Hamilton, Cats)
Comedy- Dramatic and amusing, comedies usually end up in a happy and successful conclusion.
(Examples: Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare)
Melodrama- An exaggerated form of drama, a melodrama utilizes music to draw audience’s emotions.
 Historical Drama- A historical drama is A type of drama that attempts to relive famous historical
events that made a mark in the world. (Examples: Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, Dekada 70 by
Lualhati Bautista)
Fantasy- Fantasy showcases magic, mythology, horror, pseudo-science, and other
fictional themes. (Examples: Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare)