Fiction Essentials - What Every Good Story Needs

Important Notes on the Building Blocks of Fiction

Fiction writers often expect the muse to guide them in writing a quality short story or novel. Usually, however, the muse can only take the writer so far. There are several fiction essentials: things that every good story needs to engage the reader and potential publishers.

Fiction Essential One: Characters

Characters in a story must be realistic, fully developed people with whom the readers can relate and sympathize. In order to do this, the writer must create complete personalities for their characters.

Using a character sheet is a good way to create realistic characters. On one, you outline the physical appearance, family, work, and relationship history, and personal opinions and beliefs of the character. The more you know about your character, the easier it is to have them act like a real person in your story.

An important thing to do when creating characters is to give each one a flaw and a motivation. There are no perfect people in the world, and everyone has a reason for the actions they take. Purpose and drive are important fiction essentials.

Fiction Essential Two: Plot

Of course, it is essential for every fiction story to have a plot. A plot is defined as what happens during a story. If your story is little more than a description of an average day in the life of a character, your reader will probably be bored.

A short story will have one strong plot that includes at least one conflict. A conflict is essential in any fiction writing. It causes emotional and actual response in the character, thus engaging the reader in the story.

A novel will often have one strong plot and several subplots. In life, there is usually more than one thing happening at a time: problems at work, your car breaking down, and a romantic interest, for example. Each sub-plot will have a conflict of its own.

Fiction Essential Three: Setting

The setting of a story is where and when it takes place. Often, in longer fiction pieces, there are multiple settings. It is essential to create realistic settings that work in the readers mind.