The Basics of Fiction Writing Essays

The Basics of Fiction Writing Essays The Basics of Fiction Writing Essay The Basics of Fiction Writing Essay Plot The plot (sequence of events) in a short story can be broken into different parts: The exposition is the beginning of the story in which the author establishes the setting and introduces the characters. 1. How does the story beginning engage the reader? (dialogue, action, description, etc.) 2. What essential information does the author include early on? The initial incident is the event which occurs early in the story and which calls the problem or conflict to our attention. 3. What initial incident calls the problem or conflict to our attention? The rising action includes the events which increase the tension between the protagonist and the antagonist. The rising action comprises most of the plot of the story. 4. Jot the plot – Note the events in order and explain how the character struggles. The climax is the TURNING POINT – the conflict must be resolved one way or the other. 5. Decide when you think the TURNING POINT of the story is and explain how the conflict is resolved (Does the character defeat his obstacle? How do you know?) Think of the falling action as the way the author lands the plane of the story 6. What does the character say and do after he has won or lost? Why? 7. What other events, dialogue, descriptions are included after the climax? Why? Now that the plane has landed, the story needs to be resolved or unknotted. 8. Has the character changed in any way? 9. Has he learned anything about himself or his world? Why or why not? What has he learned? 10. What is the last sentence of the story? Why has the author written that sentence? More Plot Also, watch for the author’s use of these techniques: Foreshadowing: Does the author give hints or clues that point to the story’s outcome? Flashback: Does the author leap backwards in time to an incident that helps explain why things are the way they are? (Any action that has happened before the timeframe of the story is called antecedent action.) Suspens