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Elements of the Story Writing

The document outlines the essential elements of story writing, including character, setting, plot, conflict, theme, point of view, and resolution. It emphasizes the importance of a compelling theme, believable characters, and a well-structured plot to engage readers. Additionally, it highlights the necessity of conflict and a satisfying resolution to create a memorable story.

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Arnav
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65 views3 pages

Elements of the Story Writing

The document outlines the essential elements of story writing, including character, setting, plot, conflict, theme, point of view, and resolution. It emphasizes the importance of a compelling theme, believable characters, and a well-structured plot to engage readers. Additionally, it highlights the necessity of conflict and a satisfying resolution to create a memorable story.

Uploaded by

Arnav
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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ELEMENTS OF STORY WRITING

 Character: Depending on the nature of the story, characters are most often
people or animals.
 Setting: A story’s setting refers not only to the physical location, but also the time
the action takes place. It is the where and the when of a story.

 Plot: The plot relates to the events that happen in a story. Plot can be further
divided into sub-elements such as: introduction, rising action, climax, falling
action, and resolution. It is the what of the story. Plot usually begins with a
problem and ends in the story’s resolution.

 Conflict: . This conflict can be thought of as a challenge or problem that drives
the action of the story. No conflict, no story. Setting up a series of cause and
effect events, conflict gives these events their why.

 Theme: The theme refers to the underlying insight, the moral or idea that the
writer is expressing through the story. It is often thought of as the ‘message’ of
the story.

The plot of a story consists of five parts:


 Exposition (originally called introduction)
 Rising action (rise)
 Climax.
 Falling action (return or fall)
 resolution, or revelation
 What are the Elements of a Story?
Effective, compelling stories contain:

1 — A Theme

what happens in a story, a theme is why it happens—which you need to


know while you’re writing the plot.
So, before you even begin writing, determine why you want to tell this story.

 What message do you wish to convey?


 What will it teach the reader about life?

Resist the urge to explicitly state your theme. Just tell your story and let it explore
your theme and make its own point.
They may remember your plot, but ideally you want them to think long about your
theme.
2 — Characters

I’m talking believable characters who feel knowable.


Your main character is the protagonist, also known as the lead or hero/heroine.
The protagonist must have:

 redeemable human flaws


 potentially heroic qualities that emerge in the climax
 a character arc (he must be a different, better, stronger person by the end)

You also need an antagonist, the villain.


Your villain should be every bit as formidable and compelling as your hero.

3 — Setting.

This may include location, time, or era, but it should also include how things look,
smell, taste, feel, and sound.
Thoroughly research details about your setting, but remember this is the
seasoning, not the main course. The main course is the story itself.
But, beware. Agents and acquisitions editors tell me one of the biggest
mistakes beginning writers make is feeling they must begin by describing
the setting.

4 — Point of View

To determine Point of View (POV) for your story, decide two things:

 the voice you will use to write your story: First Person (I, me), Second Person (you,
your), or Third Person (he, she or it), and
 who will serve as your story’s camera?

Readers experience everything in your story from this character’s perspective. (No
hopping into the heads of other characters.) What your POV character sees, hears,
touches, smells, tastes, and thinks is all you can convey.
Some writers think this limits them to First Person, but it doesn’t.
Most novels are written in Third Person Limited: one perspective character at a
time, usually the one with the most at stake.
Writing your novel in First Person makes it easiest to limit yourself to that one
perspective character, but Third-Person Limited is most popular for a reason.

5 — Plot

Plot is the sequence of events that make up a story. It’s what compels your reader
to either keep turning the pages, or set the book aside.
Think of plot as the storyline of your novel.
A successful story answers two questions:

1. What happens? (Plot)


2. What does it mean?
3. All story structures include some variation of:

 An Opener
 An Inciting Incident that changes everything
 A series of crises that build tension
 A Climax
 A Resolution (or Conclusion)

6 — Conflict

Conflict is the engine of fiction and is crucial to effective nonfiction as well.


Readers crave conflict and long to see what results from it.
If everything in your plot is going well and everyone is agreeing, you’ll quickly bore
your reader—a cardinal sin.
What is it? What’s behind it? Readers will keep turning the pages to find out.

7 — Resolution

you must have an idea where your story is going and think about your ending every
day.
How you expect the story to end should inform every scene and chapter. It may
change, evolve, grow as you and your characters experience the inevitable arcs,
but never leave it to chance.
Keep your lead character center stage to the very end. Everything he learns
through all the complications that arise from his trying to fix the terrible trouble
you plunged him into should, in the end, make him rise to the occasion.

Read through everything you’ve written. Take a long walk. Think on it. Sleep on it.
Jot notes about it. Let your subconscious work on it. Play what-if games. Be
outrageous if you must. But deliver a satisfying ending that resonates.

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