Writers have many tools to execute their craft, but fiction, in particular, contains certain common elements. Knowing and mastering these elements helps any writer have a strong foundation in the craft.
Each of these elements is essential for constructing a narrative, and they are combined in distinct ways according to a writer's creative vision and purpose. Click or tap on the flip cards below to learn about the common elements of creative writing and how to identify them in a piece of fiction:
The plot is the series of events that structure the narrative or main story, providing direction and purpose to the text. It has a beginning, middle, and end, although it may not be told in that order, and it contains a central problem that drives the story forward. To identify the plot, ask yourself, "What is happening?"
Characters are the people who make up a story, bringing it to life, and pushing the plot forward through their actions, decisions, and development. To identify the characters, ask yourself, "Who is part of the story, and what traits, motivations, and changes define them?"
Setting is the time and place in which a story takes place, grounding it in a believable or imaginative world. The setting can create a feeling for the reader, for instance, a story set in a barren tundra will be distinct from one placed in a rich Pacific rainforest. To identify the setting, ask yourself, "Where and when is the story happening?"
Theme is the central idea, meaning, or message of a story beyond the surface plot. Themes are often implied rather than directly stated and are revealed through characters, conflict, dialogue, and events. A story can have one main theme (ie. love, power, identity, freedom) or multiple themes. To identify the them, ask yourself: What is the story trying to say about life, people, or the world?
Dialogue is the exchange of spoken words between characters that reveal characters' personalities, motivations, and/or conflicts. It reflects character relationships and advances the story through interaction. To identify dialogue consider, "Who is speaking, to whom, and what are they saying?"