Fiction Writing 101: The Elements of Fiction

There’s a lot of room for creativity in fiction writing. You can travel in time, invent new worlds, and create strange beings. Put a fresh twist on an ancient story, make the modern world seem antiquated, or you can simply give readers a glimpse into the lives of ordinary people who are facing extraordinary challenges.

But there are a few guidelines that you must follow.

Good fiction writing recognizes the five elements of fiction. These elements are the core materials that you use to create a captivating story:

• Character – who
• Plot – what
• Setting – where and when
• Theme – why
• Style – how

In successful fiction writing, each of these elements are interwoven seamlessly.

Elements of Fiction

Character

Most people feel that characterization is the most important element of fiction because readers connect directly with characters. It is this emotional connection that keeps a reader interested enough to turn page after page.

Plot

For there to be a story, there must be action. Things have to happen. How they happen, when they happen, who they happen to, and in what order they happen is plot, and while readers emotionally connect with characters, it’s the plot that stirs their curiosity.

Setting

Setting may very well be the least significant element, though some stories place heavy emphasis on setting, occasionally to the point where the setting is actually more a character than a backdrop.

Theme

What will readers think when they finish reading your story? How will they feel? This will be determined by the theme – the message of the story and the ideas or lessons that it presents.

Style

In fiction writing, there are many things going on that affect the story but have nothing to do with it. These are the choices a writer makes about how to tell their story. Components of style include point of view, narration, grammar, spelling, punctuation, language, rhythm, structure, tone, imagery, and more. Style is also referred to as voice.

Fiction Writing

Why is it important for a fiction writer to understand the elements of fiction? Isn’t it best to just sit down and write, and let your creativity do its thing?

Well, yes and no.

There are several reasons why familiarity with the elements of fiction will benefit your fiction writing endeavors:

• Knowing these terms enables you to talk intelligently about fiction writing.
• You will be able to identify problem areas more easily.
• If you plot stories in advance, understanding these elements is essential.
• Understanding these elements gives you a new perspective as a fiction reader.
• If the elements of fiction are your story building materials, then you should know what you’re working with.

Sure, you can sit down and write a story from raw creativity, and there’s a small chance that it will be good. But the more you study and understand the craft, the more equipped you will be to write truly good fiction.

Do you have any fiction writing tips, experiences, or questions to share? Leave a comment!