WRITING TIPS FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

These Are The Five Basic Elements For Every Fictional Story

Shape your story like an arc, starting at the bottom, climbing up to the top and then gliding back to the bottom again.

Every fictional tale you have ever read had a couple of basic elements. Each story you write should have those same components for your reader to follow along.

The five basic elements: * Characters * Setting * Plot * Conflict * Theme

The characters in your story

Without characters, there is no story. The characters are the people the story is about, and you should introduce them in such a way that the reader can form an image of each person. Allow the character’s physical attributes and their personality traits to shine through in your writing. That way, the reader can visualize the person. However, make sure you show these attributes/traits and not tell the reader what they are.

The two main characters are the protagonist (the main character or “hero”) and the antagonist (character in conflict with the protagonist). The protagonist is the one who determines the development of the plot and solves the ‘problem’ in the story. In your story, the antagonist can be more than one person, and you can also have ‘supporting’ characters.

If a character doesn’t contribute to the story in any way, remove them.

Always make sure all characters stay true to who they were when you introduced them to your readers. Don’t make them undergo a personality change mid-story.

Characters don’t have to be people, but can also be animals or an inanimate object.

Setting

The setting is exactly that: the time and place where the action happens. The author’s task is to describe the place and surroundings in such a way the readers feel like they are right there. They can form an image in their mind, even if it’s a fantasy setting. When your story has a historical setting, make sure all your facts are correct!

Plot

A plot is a series of events and character actions that relate to the central conflict. It’s the ‘what happens and why’ of the story.

The plot should have a clear beginning, middle and end, and includes descriptions and suspense for the reader to follow along with the events.

Imagine the plot as an arc. It starts at the introduction, follows up to the rising action, and then gets to the top when the story reaches the climax. After that, it goes down with the falling action and flattens out at the resolution.

Elements of the plot arc are:

• Introduction/Exposition: The most important here is this is the place where you catch your reader’s attention. You reveal the basic characters, and the setting, and you can even hint at the conflict.
• Rising action: Here you introduce the problem or conflict that’s central to the plot. Things around the main characters get complicated. The rising action happens in the first third of your story.
• Climax: Every story must have a conflict, as this is the ‘problem’ on which the story is based. Without conflict, your story will have no purpose. The climax is when the action becomes the most exciting. You keep your reader on the edge of the seat, maybe even making them think the protagonist might fail at resolving the conflict.
• Falling action: This includes events that will help to fully resolve the conflict. Here you include results of actions and decisions taken and made by the protagonist, whether it’s good or bad for them.
• Resolution: In the resolution, you tie up all loose ends, conclude conflicts, and reveal outcomes. You bring your story to an ending — happy or sad. The last actions have already happened in the falling action, so in the resolution it’s enough to ‘summarize’ where the protagonist will end up in the future.

Conflict

The conflict is a struggle between two people or things in your story.

The protagonist is always on one side of the central conflict, having an internal or external struggle, which is what stands on the other side.

An internal struggle is when the main character struggle against themself — their feelings, emotions or an illness. An external struggle is the protagonist against the antagonist, or against nature, or against society.

The theme of your story

The theme in a story is its underlying message, or the ‘big idea’ the author is trying to convey to their readers. It’s the central idea of the story.

Short stories mostly have one theme, where in a novel, the author can address multiple themes. The theme runs through the story, and the actions of the characters, their interactions, and motivations all reflect the story’s theme.

Don’t confuse the theme of the story with the plot (discussed above) or the moral.

The moral is the lesson you want the protagonist (and the reader) to learn from the story.

The plot and the moral serves the overall theme of the story.

Personal tip

When I write a story, I try to feel my characters. I allow them to hang around my shoulders like a cloak. I creep under their skin and get to know them, their thoughts, their actions. If you don’t do that yet, try it and see how authentic you can make your characters. This also makes it easier to come back to a story and write a sequel.

Happy writing!

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