what does fiction writing mean

Definition of Fiction

Examples of well-known literary fiction novels, common examples of genres in fiction, what is literary fiction, what is genre fiction.

There are now seven major genres of fiction as given below.

Difference Between Literary Fiction and Genre Fiction

Examples of fiction in literature, example 1:  don quixote by miguel de cervantes.

It is one thing to write as poet and another to write as a historian: the poet can recount or sing about things not as they were, but as they should have been, and the historian must write about them not as they should have been, but as they were, without adding or subtracting anything from the truth.

Cervantes’s novel is considered a significant work of Spanish literature and a touchstone of classic literary fiction, influencing writers across time and region. As this passage indicates, Don Quixote explores the meaning and purpose of fiction and nonfiction writing as it relates to both the expectations of the reader and the implied obligation of the writer. In addition, Cervantes’s innovative narrative form in creating the first modern novel opened the gate for writers everywhere to approach fiction and imaginative expression in original, expansive, and groundbreaking ways.

Example 2:  A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings by Gabriel García Márquez

The news of the captive angel spread with such rapidity that after a few hours the courtyard had the bustle of a marketplace and they had to call in troops with fixed bayonets to disperse the mob that was about to knock the house down. Elisenda, her spine all twisted from sweeping up so much marketplace trash, then got the idea of fencing in the yard and charging five cents admission to see the angel .

Example 3:  Ragtime  by E.L. Doctorow

He was buried alive in a grave and could not escape, and had to be rescued. Hurriedly, they dug him out. The earth is too heavy, he said gasping. His nails bled. Soil fell from his eyes. He was drained of color and couldn’t stand. His assistant threw up. Houdini wheezed and sputtered. He coughed blood. They cleaned him off and took him back to the hotel. Today, nearly fifty years since his death, the audience for escapes is even larger.

This passage reflects the way Houdini, an actual historical figure, is a full-fledged character in the novel, with dialogue and actions attributed to him by the author. Though the words, actions, and thoughts of the historical figures in the novel are fictionalized and created by Doctorow, the balance between “real” events and people as they intersect with fictional characters results in an interesting portrayal for the reader of what is known and unknown about history. Doctorow effectively utilizes literary fiction to challenge the reader’s perceptions of the past, which invites the same challenge of how we perceive the present.

Synonyms of Fiction

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What Is Fiction?

Hannah Yang

Table of Contents

What is a fiction book, fiction examples, characteristics of fiction, final words on fiction.

One of the most important categorizations of writing is the difference between fiction and nonfiction . There are countless types of books that count as fiction, from sweeping fantasy epics to quiet family dramas.

So, what exactly does the term fiction mean?

The short answer is that fiction refers to writing created from the imagination. The term fiction encompasses everything from novels to short stories to plays.

Read on to learn the meaning of fiction and some of fiction’s most important characteristics.

Before we get into fiction characteristics and examples, let’s start with a quick definition of what the word fiction means.

Fiction Book Definition

Fiction is literature created from the imagination.

The word fiction comes from the Latin word fictiō , which is defined as “the act of making, fashioning, or molding.” So essentially, a fiction book is a story that’s made and molded by the author.

Fiction Books Meaning

It’s one thing to understand the dictionary definition of fiction, but you can also go deeper when understanding what the actual meaning of fiction is.

You can think of a fiction book as any book that isn’t intended by the author to be taken as fact.

Some fiction books are based on true stories or include real people, but they still count as fiction as long as the author used their imagination to reinterpret what really happened.

Of course, not all fiction comes in book form. There are many forms of fiction, including short stories, novels, graphic novels, and more.

There are also many genres of fiction, such as literary, fantasy, romance, and mystery. Each genre has its own conventions, tropes, and styles.

The opposite of fiction is nonfiction, which is a term we use for work that’s supposed to be read as factual. Nonfiction books include memoirs, biographies, self-help books, science books, and other books that are based on fact rather than imagination.

Why Do We Read Fiction?

There are many different reasons people read fictional stories. A fictional story can serve a variety of purposes, such as entertaining readers, inspiring people, or provoking a cultural conversation.

You might read a novel just to escape into a fictional world for a few hours. A story can entertain you when you feel bored, motivate you when you feel apathetic, or uplift you when you feel hopeless.

It’s a common misconception to think that nonfiction is designed solely to teach, and we design fiction solely to entertain. But this isn’t the case. Fictional stories can teach us truths about the world we can’t learn in any other way.

Some of these truths are factual truths, such as a historical fiction novel that gives us well-researched details about what it was like to live in a different time period. More importantly, fiction also teaches us emotional truths, such as a novel about characters going through struggles that resemble the ones we’re going through in our own lives.

Reading fiction can help us understand ourselves and our societies in a deeper and more nuanced way. Seeing characters engage with their own relationships and goals can give us a better perspective on our own.

The best way to understand any form of writing is by seeing it in action. Let’s look at some popular examples of fiction within several genres and categories.

Fantasy Fiction

Fantasy is a speculative fiction genre that involves some element of magic. Fantasy stories draw on elements from legends, fairy tales, mythology, and the imagination. 

Some fantasy stories are set in a fictional world that looks nothing like the world we know, with made-up species like orcs and elves. Other fantasy stories are set on Earth, either in a historical time period, in the present day, or in the future, with only minor magical elements.

Some examples of fantasy books include:

The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin

The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson

The Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien

The Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling

Babel by R. F. Kuang

Science Fiction

Science fiction explores speculative questions related to science and technology. Science fiction stories might involve robots, AI, space travel, bioengineering, cloning, time travel, and many other elements.

Some well-known examples of science fiction books include:

The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin

Dune by Frank Herbert

The Martian by Andy Weir

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

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Horror Fiction

Horror is a genre that’s designed to elicit feelings of fear, shock, and dread.

Horror stories often involve speculative elements such as ghosts, zombies, and haunted houses. Many authors use these elements to critique the flaws of modern society or to elucidate deeper themes about the human condition.

Some fantastic examples of horror stories include:

The Shining by Stephen King

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

“The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe

Wilder Girls by Rory Power

Mystery/Crime Fiction

Mystery and crime fiction are genres that focus on a specific crime, such as a murder or robbery.

Mysteries, also called “whodunits,” usually follow a character trying to figure out who committed the crime and why. Other types of crime fiction might follow the criminal or focus on other aspects of the crime instead of the process of solving it.

Some examples of mystery and crime novels include:

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco

The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett

Still Life by Louise Penny

A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Romance Fiction

The romance genre includes all books that focus on a central love story. Usually, romance novels follow a budding relationship between two characters and conclude with a happy ending.

There are countless tropes romance readers can choose from, such as enemies to lovers, childhood friends to lovers, and second-chance romance.

Some examples of romance novels include:

Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Today Tonight Tomorrow by Rachel Lynn Solomon

The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Historical Fiction

Historical fiction describes stories that are set in the past. Most historical stories focus on accurately conveying what it would have been like to live in a different time period, from the foods characters eat to the way they think and behave.

Historical novels take place all over the world, from ancient Mesopotamia to the American Civil War.

Some examples of historical fiction novels include:

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott

Literary Fiction

Literary fiction is a term for fiction that doesn’t fit cleanly into a specific genre. Stories in this category usually focus less on following specific conventions and more on experimenting with language and theme.

Many bookstores and publishers split up literary and genre fiction because these two types of fiction typically target different audiences. Genre fiction (such as fantasy, horror, and romance) is usually plot driven and often very commercial, whereas literary fiction is usually character driven and less commercially popular.

Some examples of literary fiction include:

Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

Normal People by Sally Rooney

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

Short Stories

Not all fiction comes in the form of a full-length novel. Short stories are a literary form that can usually be read in a single sitting.

A short story can range from about 1,000–7,500 words. The average short story has a smaller scope than a novel, often focusing on a single event or a single idea.

Here are some examples of famous short stories:

“Cat Person” by Kristen Roupenian

“Mother Tongues” by S. Qiouyi Lu

“The Cathedral” by Raymond Carver

“All Summer in a Day” by Ray Bradbury

Flash Fiction

Flash fiction is a term used for stories that are even shorter than short stories. There aren’t universal guidelines for what counts as flash fiction, but most publishers define flash fiction as stories that are under 1,500 words.

There are also some subcategories of flash fiction that get even more specific about word counts, such as micro fiction (under 100 words) and the six-word story (6 words exactly).

Writers of flash fiction have to focus on conveying a lot of meaning in a small amount of space. It’s a very concise art form.

Here are some examples of flash fiction:

“Sticks” by George Saunders

“Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid

“Vengeance” by K-Ming Chang

“Curriculum” by Sejal Shah

“Black Jesus” by Venita Blackburn

There are certain defining characteristics that you’ll find in almost any work of fiction writing. Here’s our breakdown of five common characteristics .

Characteristic 1: Well-Developed Characters

One of the strengths of fiction is the ability to introduce readers to a character that feels compelling and real, even though the character is completely imaginary.

A well-fleshed-out character should have motivations, fears, and flaws that feel human. When we read fiction, we feel like we know the people we’re reading about.

Fictional characters often develop and change as the story progresses. They might make positive progress as they learn crucial lessons about themselves and confront their own flaws, or they might make negative progress as they lean harder into their worst traits.  

Characteristic 2: Engaging Plots

Every work of fiction has a plot. “Plot” is a word we use for the events that happen within the narrative.  

Some plots are fast-paced and full of action, packed with new plot twists that keep the reader guessing. Think of mysteries, thrillers, and action-adventure novels.

Other plots are slower and simpler, with just a few key moments that change the characters’ lives. Think of family dramas and literary novels.

Characteristic 3: Exploration of Themes

Every work of fiction engages with certain themes. Sometimes the author doesn’t even intend for all those themes to be there—they just naturally emerge when readers engage with the text because the human mind instinctively searches for meaning.

A story might explore the complex balance between independence and community. Or it might explore the ways we handle grief.  

Characteristic 4: Use of Literary Devices

Many authors use literary devices to make their stories more effective.

Literary devices can include metaphors, allegories, flashbacks, and symbolism, among many others.

An author might use a simile to draw a connection between two disparate things. Or they might use a flashback to reveal parts of a character’s past that shed more light on who they are now.

Characteristic 5: Genre-Specific Tropes

There are many genres of fiction, and most of these genres have been around for a long time. That means each genre comes with a set of reader expectations.

So, most genre fiction books contain tropes that fit their genres.

For example, most romance readers expect some kind of meet cute between the two love interests at the beginning of the story and a happily ever after at the end.

Similarly, most mystery readers expect some kind of crime to be committed at the beginning of the story and an explanation to be provided at the end.

There you have it—our complete guide to what fiction is and what makes it stand out. We hope this article helped you understand the defining characteristics of fiction stories. And if you want to learn more about writing fiction , check out our articles for fiction writers.

Good luck, and happy writing!

Hannah is a speculative fiction writer who loves all things strange and surreal. She holds a BA from Yale University and lives in Colorado. When she’s not busy writing, you can find her painting watercolors, playing her ukulele, or hiking in the Rockies. Follow her work on hannahyang.com or on Twitter at @hannahxyang.

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fiction , literature created from the imagination, not presented as fact, though it may be based on a true story or situation. Types of literature in the fiction genre include the novel , short story , and novella . The word is from the Latin fictiō, “the act of making, fashioning, or molding.”

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[ fik -sh uh n ]

• the class of literature comprising works of imaginative narration, especially in prose form.

detective fiction.

We've all heard the fiction of her being in delicate health.

Synonyms: fantasy , fable

Antonyms: fact

• the act of feigning, inventing, or imagining.
• an imaginary thing or event, postulated for the purposes of argument or explanation.
• Law. an allegation that a fact exists that is known not to exist, made by authority of law to bring a case within the operation of a rule of law.

/ ˈfɪkʃən /

• literary works invented by the imagination, such as novels or short stories
• an invented story or explanation; lie
• the act of inventing a story or explanation
• law something assumed to be true for the sake of convenience, though probably false
• Literature that is a work of the imagination and is not necessarily based on fact. Some examples of modern works of fiction are The Great Gatsby , by F. Scott Fitzgerald , and Lolita , by Vladimir Nabokov .

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Derived forms.

• ˈfictionally , adverb
• ˌfictionˈeer , noun
• ˈfictional , adjective

Other Words From

• fiction·al adjective
• fiction·al·ly adverb
• pro·fiction adjective
• semi·fiction noun
• semi·fiction·al adjective
• semi·fiction·al·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of fiction 1

Synonym Study

Example sentences.

This is why GPT-3 shines when writing creative fiction, where factual accuracy is less of a concern.

Your write that language, like fiction, creates meaning where none existed before.

They’re probably all wrong to start with, and then we try and link those fictions with other people’s fictions.

Indeed, a lot of serious science fiction work aims to scare us away from less-than-palatable trajectories we might be considering, or have already embarked on.

Mulan’s entry into masculine spaces is celebrated, for example, because women embracing traits strongly associated with masculinity is celebrated in fiction.

The pulps brought new readers to serious fiction, making it less intimidating with alluring art and low prices.

There was a lot of prison fiction from movies and books to mine.

While politics tend to migrate toward the poles, humanity—and fiction, at its best—huddles in between.

The ghost writer in question is assumed to be one Siobhan Curham—an established author of both YA and adult fiction.

They hire other people to write their books for them, whether memoir or fiction.

A true history of the Merrill Horse, and the adventures of its different members, would read like the most exciting fiction.

Certainly The Cheats establishes her in my mind as our first writer of historical fiction.

One of the most humorous tales of modern fiction, combined with a very tender and appealing love story.

Ere joining the "Friends," she had been induced to give up, not only writing fiction, but reading it also.

It is a history full of instruction, and ever reminds us that truth is stranger than fiction.

Related Words

• best seller
• imagination

Elements of Fiction: Master the 6 Ingredients of Powerful Storytelling

by Ruthanne Reid | 29 comments

Much of writing is instinctual, born of exposure to good stories and a lot of practice. However, there are some tools every writer needs to make their story professional and effective. Grammar and spelling are the obvious ones, but today, I'm talking about the key elements of fiction: character, plot, setting, point of view, theme, and style.

Good stories have great plots. To make yours better, check out our new book, check out my new book The Write Structure which helps writers make their plot better and write books readers love. Click to check out The Write Structure here »

The First Element of Fiction: Character

In many ways, characters are the foundation for the entire work. Is there conflict? That's going to involve the emotional and mental condition of your characters. Have you chosen a point of view? That's you following specific characters as you tell the story. Your characters are the people through whom your reader experiences the tale, and the trick is to make those fictional characters feel completely real through character development .

• You'll need to know their backstory . This doesn't mean your reader needs to know it, but your understanding of your character's history is crucial for how and why your character responds to things.
• You'll need at least a rudimentary grasp of psychology. You and I have both read books which annoyed us because the characters just didn't feel “real.” Often, this is because basic psychology was ignored, and the characters behaved in a way that made no sense for human beings.
• You'll need to understand the power of the character arc. Your character should not be the same at the end of the story as in the beginning. They change, and their growth is a key aspect of your story's momentum.

If your characters are flat, your readers will have trouble empathizing. But if your characters feel real and relatable, then your readers will eat your story up. Understanding what your characters do and say (and how other characters respond to them) helps to paint the fullest possible picture of your fictional creation.

The Second Element of Fiction: Plot

One small aside: plenty of fiction writers would start this list with plot , not character. Both are fine. Your characters live inside your plot, but your plot revolves around your characters. I just put plot second in this list because when I write, my plot follows my characters, rather than the other way around. If you do it differently, there's nothing to fear: you're still right! (I could say “write,” but you might click the back button.)

Plot is like a blueprint. Your plot, its connections, and its structure determine the way you shape your story. It includes the order in which your characters face things. It's the organized structure, the thing that will end up in an outline on Wikipedia (with spoiler alerts, of course).

The Six Stages of Plot

• Exposition or introduction, which establishes characters and setting.
• The inciting Incident is an event in a story that throws the main character into a challenging situation, upsetting the status quo and beginning the story’s movement, either in a positive way or negative.
• Rising action , which reveals the conflict. Now that your characters are established (along with some sense of what their “normal” looks like), you throw in the wrench and raise the stakes.
• The rising action builds to a dilemma , the moment a character is put in a situation where they have to make an impossible choice.
• Now comes the climax , also known as the turning point. This should be the greatest moment of tension in your story; everything is critical, with emotion and interest peaked. This is make-or-break, the moment when things matter the most.
• Finally, we have resolution (or what Joe likes to call the denouement ). Don't let the word fool you: this ending isn't necessarily happy or sad. It means everything has been solved, and your conclusion arrives at the place where all the events of the plot have strongly led. It feels final, or at least, final enough that the reader can put the book down without flipping back through the pages to see if they missed something. Again, this doesn't require a happy ending. It does require a satisfying one, even if you mean to continue in a sequel. If you've left any knots still tied, you'd better have a good reason why—and better make sure your reader has a clue that the answers are coming soon.

Before we move on, I want to circle back and remind you that you need conflict in your story. A lot of authors struggle with this since conflict is by nature deeply uncomfortable. However, every really good story has some kind of conflict—even if that conflict is purely an internal struggle with a heavy emotion.

Extra: If you want to dive deeper into writing an effective plot, take a look at Joe's book The Write Structure .

The Third Element of Fiction: Setting

Setting is one of my personal favorite elements. This includes the physical location (real or invented) and the social environment of the story (including chronology, culture, institutions, etc.).

I love setting because, in many ways, it's like a character. No, your setting doesn't have feelings, but your characters are forced to interact with it everywhere they go and in everything they do. Your setting actually develops who your characters are.

How setting impacts characters

It determines, among other things:

• The skills they've developed to survive
• The tools they'll have (weapons, money, clothing, transportation)
• The cultural norms for communication (speech, body language, and relative rules for communication between genders, classes, and more)
• The presuppositions your character brings into the story (religion, psychology, philosophy, educational assumptions, all of which have a lot to do with the way your characters respond to stimuli)

When designing your setting, it's a good idea to have some idea how it all works. What's the weather like? How does the economy function? Do they use money? Where does pancake batter come fruom?

Are you copying a historical culture? (And if you are, I highly advise looking for something that isn't European. Mix it up! The world is a glorious patchwork of variety.)

Your characters have to swim through this world, so have fun with this. Creating your setting (also known as world-building) can be one of the most exciting parts of writing.

The Fourth Element of Fiction: Point-of-View

Point of View is a fun and tricky tool to work with. POV determines things like tense and how much the reader gets to see. There's first-person (I, my), second-person (you, your), and third-person/narrator (she, hers). There's present tense (I see/she sees), past tense, (I saw/she saw), and even that cockamamie future tense nobody uses (I will see/she will see).

It's the combination of these things that create an effective POV. So how do you choose?

It all depends on (1) the particular feel you're going for and (2) how much your reader needs to see.

Questions to ask when choosing point of view

• Urban fantasy, for example, is almost always first-person past-tense, because they're going for the feel of a person telling you an exciting thing that happened. There's an intimate, immediate feel that goes with this close-up-and-personal viewpoint, like seeing the fist come right for your face.
• On the other hand, literary fiction usually uses third-person. The reason is simple: literary fiction usually has a much broader scope than urban fantasy and so needs to be able to take the reader to a bird's-eye view, usually seeing through multiple characters. The pace is often a little slower, but the impact can be deeply powerful, and tends to explore consequences.
• Is it essential that the reader sees things happening outside your protagonist's point of view? Do they need to see things your protagonist does not see, or hear things your protagonist does not hear? Then you need third-person POV.
• Do you actually need the reader to discover things at the same pace as your protagonist? Do you want your reader to waffle and rage with your protagonist, seeking for answers? Then first-person might be better.

Variety is the spice of life, and you have the joy of mixing and matching as you need.

• Want third-person present tense? (She turns and sees him, and wonders if unexpected encounters can stop one's heart.)
• Want first-person past tense? (I turned and saw him, and found myself wondering if unexpected encounters could stop my heart.)
• Want second-person future tense? (You will turn and see him, and you will wonder if the unexpected encounter will stop your heart.)

Study up on how these work, and you have a whole new set of tools to play with.

The Fifth Element of Fiction: Theme

Theme is a hidden element, but incredibly important: in essence, theme is what your story is REALLY about.

The plot is the outward details, e.g., “A son stands to inherit his father's vast business empire, but only if he can prove himself to be a responsible adult by the age of 25.” Theme would be what it's really about, e.g., “Growing up requires choices.” Or, “‘Family' means more than wealth.” If you're really good, you can even use a one-word theme, like love, truth, adulthood, etc.

Yes, all fictional books have themes, even if it wasn't intentional. Even authors who aren't aware of theme use it—personal beliefs on how the world works (or should work) always flavor the story.

The tricky thing about theme is it should rarely be bluntly stated in your work; the moment you do, your work slides into the “preachy” category. Of course, sometimes, you want folks to know what the purpose is up front, but if you can manage to make it subtle—to get that point across without ever frankly stating it—your readers will actually take it to heart a lot more deeply.

Think about it. Simply reading about something like statistics on autism might make you think, but entering into the story of a character struggling with it (such as The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime ) can do a lot more to help you really feel and understand the challenges and cultural barriers faced.  Effective stories are written by authors who knew the theme. What's yours?

Examples of theme

• My first book,  The Sundered , is about growing up and realizing you've been lied to.
• My first novelette,  The Christmas Dragon , carries the theme that running away doesn't solve problems.
• My second novelette,  Strings , is about the choice—and cost—of heroism.

However, in all three books, I do what I can to make sure that readers don't feel “moralized” at. Instead, I want the reader to emotionally arrive at these conclusions alongside the protagonists.

Effective stories are written by authors who know their theme. What's yours? (Need help choosing one? Check this out: When Choosing Themes, Write What You Don't Know .)

By the way, this “theme” concept has some nifty corollaries. A symbol, for example, shows up to represent individual details within the story (e.g., glass breaking at the moment a friendship fails), and a motif is a narrative element that shows up repeatedly throughout the tale (e.g., “Quote the Raven, ‘Nevermore'”). Read more here:  The Difference Between Symbol and Motif .

The Sixth Element of Fiction: Style

Style is awesome. It is needed. Style is the thing that makes your work stand out from everybody else's, because in essence, it's your “voice.”

You develop style by working on technique. Your syntax, word choices, and tone all contribute to this. Your style can demonstrate not only your voice as a writer, but is crucial to indicating details about your story and characters. Style shows accent and dialect, character intelligence and observation; it shows the underlying humor or drama of your piece. Your style is your unique flavor, and developing it will not only take your entire writing career, but is also one of the most rewarding activities as a writer.

Developing your writing style takes work; there are no short-cuts for this, but that doesn't mean it can't be fun.

• Read a lot. The more variety you pour into yourself, the more ingredients you'll have to cook with as you develop your style. Read books from different countries, different genders, different cultures. Read everything and learn as you go.
• Write a lot. No writing is ever wasted. Practice, practice, and practice some more—and spend time reading your work out loud. (That last step can be embarrassing, but it's really helpful.)
• Listen. Listen to people. Listen to conversations. Tone is a crucial component of style, and you'll need to learn how to convey that in your work—but you can't convey it if you don't know what it sounds like.

Final Thoughts on the Six Elements of Fiction

I know what you're thinking: this seems like a lot. And you're right, it is; however, if you're an avid reader, I think you'll find you're already familiar with most of these concepts. The great stories you know and love all use them, and if you are passionate about your story, incorporating theme will not be as hard as it might seem.

You can do this. Now go and start writing!

Have you considered the six elements of fiction in your story? Which one is the first you consider when you start a story? Let us know in the comments below !

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Take  fifteen minutes and analyze your current work. Pick one of these elements (preferably not one you are familiar with) and apply it to your story.

When you’re finished, share your work in the Pro Practice Workshop here .  Not a member yet? Join us here !

Ruthanne Reid

Best-Selling author Ruthanne Reid has led a convention panel on world-building, taught courses on plot and character development, and was keynote speaker for The Write Practice 2021 Spring Retreat.

Author of two series with five books and fifty short stories, Ruthanne has lived in her head since childhood, when she wrote her first story about a pony princess and a genocidal snake-kingdom, using up her mom’s red typewriter ribbon.

When she isn’t reading, writing, or reading about writing, Ruthanne enjoys old cartoons with her husband and two cats, and dreams of living on an island beach far, far away.

P.S. Red is still her favorite color.

29 Comments

I think that this view of separating fiction into pieces works great, but to be honest, I like how Larry Brook’s Six Core Competencies of Storytelling works for me, so I think I’m gonna stick to that. But great post anyways!

Awesome, Mikhela! I’m very familiar with those. I think you’ll find it really helpful if you see that these are not in competition. Most of the items are the same; the ones that differ are literally just breaking down the broad categories (which I didn’t invent) above.

1. Concept—this is actually how your plot starts.

2. Character—identical. 🙂

3. Theme—identical. 🙂

4. Structure—This is the technical breakdown of your plot! Think of it as detailed blueprints.

5. Scene execution—the fine details, breaking down your outline points of plot into even smaller pieces.

6. Writing voice—style. 🙂

See? Isn’t it awesome how it all works together?

What about conflict and resolution?

Hi, Yiro! I already talked about those in the “plot” section. 🙂 They’re two of the five elements of plot.

Thanks. I’ve learned something.

Ruthanne, thank you for a wonderful post. Your post got me all excited about trying to write fiction again, and I hope I will soon. The way you narrated the Elements made it sound to be an exciting activity.

I’m so glad to hear this, Sarkis! Writing can definitely be fun, and nobody ever said learning technical aspects had to be boring. 🙂 I look forward to what you write!

What a magnificent reference tool, Ruthanne. Thanks for putting it all into words. And for the encouragement to make it work! We appreciate you.

Thank you, Ruth! I’m really glad it’s useful, and I appreciate you, too! Seeing you writerly-types succeed is why I do this. 🙂

I want to mirror Ruth’s comments. The information is well given, and the examples make it readable. Thanks for taking time to provide such wonderful information.

Joe, I’m delighted to hear that! I hope your writing benefits mightily. 🙂

The breath sucked from Julia’s lungs.

Sean’s presence brought memories rushing to the front of her mind, crowding out every other thought and pushing back the restaurant activity around her.

She pressed the heels of her hands into her eyes and tears flooded them.

She had to get out. But she couldn’t let him see her.

“Julia,” Shadow said.

She lifted her face from her hands. She’d forgotten he was there across from her at the booth.

“You ok?”

Words rose in her throat, but stopped there. Sean’s presence made her insides feel like raw eggs. If only she weren’t psychic – then she could convince herself that Sean was not there.

Shadow spoke again. “What’s wrong?”

At last she found her voice, though it was a whisper. “The man who tried to…” She searched for a word to replace the ugly truth. “…to hurt me, is here.” Trembling seized her. She hugged herself, shutting her mind to every other person in the room in order to block out Sean.

Shadow stared at her, then swiveled his head toward the restaurant entrance. “What does he look like?”

“About six feet tall, short, light brown hair.” A shiver rushed through her.

She watched Shadow’s eyes scan over the room. After a few moments, his gaze stopped. A muscle in his jaw twitched and something dark passed through his eyes.

With a slow movement, Shadow edged out of the booth and stood. “Come on,” he said, extending his hand.

As Shadow helped her out of the booth and backed toward the outside patio of the restaurant, he held her hand, and Julia clung to the strength of his grip.

I guess this really combines a couple of the items mentioned in your article. Any feedback/comments are welcome.

Thank you for the insightful article, Ruthanne!

I really enjoyed this. I don’t write fiction and I don’t write dialogue, so I’m impressed with the flow of this scene. It unfolded really well and brought me into the scenario quickly. My pulse even quickened! Good work 🙂

Thank you so much!

This is an awesome story!! Good job. I LOVE how you wrote this story. Keep it up!

Thank you Renee!

Hi. I have been writing since 2012. I have written a lot of stories. I am happy to share my book with you. Please visit my blog to download the book free. I would like you to read my writings and send me feedback. My blog address is RizwanAhmedMemon.blogspot.com

Is first person present tense an acceptable combination to use? I noticed it wasn’t listed and was just wondering

Of course you can! It all depends on what effect you want: first person present tense usually gives a very personal, and immediate feel, as if the action is happening right here and now.

This is helpful. Thanks a lot.

What a great article Ruthanne. So jam packed with valuable, instantly useable tools and information. Thank you! Makes me want to have a crack at fiction! Who knows? 🙂

It’s also good for your character to oppose the plot, like if she has to swim across oceans, make her terrified of water. If she has to take an airplane, make her afraid of flying! That way, she has to overcome internal conflict as well as external, which makes the plot that much more interesting.

Cool. Thanks for the tip.

Renée sharpens her pencil, ready to begin yet another story. “But what to write about?” she wonders aloud. Renée looks through Ruthanne Reid’s latest post, The 6 Elements of Fiction. How to involve conflict? “Real” characters, present tense, plot, and setting…. What a lot of stuff to add! At least its helpful, right? “Wow,” she says. “I might try some of this!” The pencil is getting dull from doodling. Renée looks out the window nearest the chair she is sitting in. “Maybe in an hour…” she thinks absently. “What did I just say?!?” Renée shouts. Oh, whoops. “Did I actually just do that out loud?” she thinks, groaning. “Okay! Spirits up, start writing,” demands Renée of herself. Then she puts the pencil to the paper and starts writing. And if you just read this, you know what exactly she wrote.

Cute story Renee! Loved it.

This was necessary for me to read. I have to be reminded of the different parts of a story. A food one. I forget. Thanks so much!

Would it be cheeky for me to enter a bit from the Preface of third book, Australia Ahoy? As you can see–imagine–bet–conclude from this, I live in a country I wasn’t born in. Here goes, anyway: “For the back (cover), I chose a painting from the Life Class at Worthing School of Art, which I attended in the evenings. Our tutor was a flouncy young Irishman, who favoured lightning short poses, which wasn’t a fat lot of use to me as a painter. But fortunately, I was able to persuade to get the model to adopt the same decorous pose for several weeks running, which I regard a a major triumph. The picture could never have been produced otherwise. I remember another exchange I had with him; one that was not so fruitful. He’d been talking about Michelangelo. I said “But Michelangelo didn’t really do a lot of painting, did he?” He raised an eyebrow at that, but was gracious enough to agree with me, saying “No. I suppose not really. If you don’t count the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.”

So inspired to write my first memoir.

I keep finding this but not what goes into an actual narrative. What would be the proper mix of Action, dialogue, thoughts, emotion, description, flashbacks and narrative summary? Is there such a thing as a proper mix or not? Is it just a matter of personal taste and style?

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• 6 Ways to Create Conflict and Get Your Protagonist in Trouble – Smart Writing Tips - […] is one of the key elements of fiction. It’s also a reason to keep reading; it’s important to put…
• What Is Plot? – Smart Writing Tips - […] couple of weeks ago, I mentioned the components of plot in an article about the 6 elements of fiction. But…
• What Is Plot? - Kindle Publishing - […] couple of weeks ago, I mentioned the components of plot in an article about the 6 elements of fiction. But…
• What Is Plot? - Publishing Review - […] couple of weeks ago, I mentioned the components of plot in an article about the 6 elements of fiction. But…
• 6 Ways to Create Conflict and Get Your Protagonist in Trouble - Publishing Review - […] is one of the key elements of fiction. It’s also a reason to keep reading; it’s important to put…

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