![]() Not only is this crucial for story development, but as human beings, we read stories and enjoy stories because we can see ourselves in them, often through the characters. Character:Ĭharacter is perhaps the most important element of fiction, as things must happen to someone or something in order for a story to progress. ![]() Without meaning, stories are forgettable. While theme often describes broad concepts like love or honor or vengeance or solidarity, most stories also carry with them a message, a more specific statement about the theme or themes. While much depends on the individual reader, a writer creates characters, places them in particular places, chooses a point of view (or more), and organizes events in a certain way in order to teach us something or show us something that means something. Theme:Īs described at the beginning of this chapter, we read stories to see ourselves revealed in them, to find meaning in them through a character’s trials and tribulations. While Creative Writing scholars are not always in agreement about the elements of fiction, general consensus outlines five essential elements that feature in all stories: they are 1.) Theme, 2.) Character, 3.) Setting, 4.) Plot, and 5.) Point of View. The fifth element of fiction is more related to craft and technique rather than content, and while it is celebrated in fiction writing, it is equally useful in creative nonfiction-that element is point of view. Even with characters situated in a place, there must also be things happening (or deliberately not happening) to someone or something for any story to progress. And yes, all stories should have meaning, and meaning that we can connect with as human beings. And indeed, all stories must be about someone or something, and this someone or something will exist in some sort of environment, whether that be a concrete or abstract place. ![]() I often begin a course of Narrative Journalism with the question: What “elements” must all stories have for them to be ’stories’? What follows is a cascade of student responses that touch on character, setting, meaning and theme, conflict and events and terms used to describe the plot or story arc. To foster a deeper appreciation for literary techniques applied to nonfiction work.To develop a basic understanding of the five elements of fiction. ![]() The learning objectives for this chapter are as follows: ![]()
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