{"id":213681,"date":"2018-09-27T18:46:49","date_gmt":"2018-09-28T00:46:49","guid":{"rendered":"https://howtoscrivener.com/?p=213681"},"modified":"2018-09-27T18:46:49","modified_gmt":"2018-09-28T00:46:49","slug":"how-to-write-a-novel-basic-story-elements","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https://howtoscrivener.com/how-to-write-a-novel-basic-story-elements/","title":{"rendered":"How to Write a Novel: Basic Story Elements"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.15″]<\/p>\n

Writing and Organizing your Story Elements<\/h2>\n

The first step in writing is thinking about the basics–your story elements. You’ll want to get comfortable asking yourself questions that will help you develop these elements that result in the spine of your story. Fleshing out as many of these details will ultimately help you plan and execute your writing. It’s much easier to\u00a0do the work if you’ve determined some of your initial story elements up front, as opposed to meandering around until you trip over something interesting. That said, don’t worry if you’re more of a “pantser” than a “plotter.” You can still get your buzz from discovering your story elements as you go, but if you have no footing to stand on, you can get no writing done fast. Consider the following foundational story elements, and then ask yourself who, what\u00a0when, where, and how?<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Character(s)<\/strong>\u2014The people (or animals, or\u00a0aliens,\u00a0or serial killers or whatever genre specific device) that the reader will follow in order to experience the events of your story.<\/li>\n
  2. Point(s) of View<\/strong>\u2014The point of view through which the reader will experience the events of the story. This can shift, or stay the same.<\/li>\n
  3. Situation\/Plot<\/strong>\u2014The situation that incites the incidents of the plot. This will establish the tone and theme.<\/li>\n
  4. Setting<\/strong>\u2014Considered by many a character in its own right, the place and time in which the events of the story occur.<\/li>\n
  5. Conflict<\/strong>\u2014The nature of tension between the protagonist’s goal or desired outcome vs the forces in the story that actively thwart that goal.<\/li>\n
  6. Stakes<\/strong>\u2014The risks, rewards, and ramifications for achieving either the protagonist’s goal(s), or the antagonist’s goal(s).<\/li>\n
  7. Theme<\/strong>\u2014The thematic meaning\u2014the subtextual sinew that connects the character’s action\/reaction\u00a0to the plot and the story in such a way that it\u00a0delivers meaning to the reader.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    In future posts, I’ll be breaking down these story elements in more detail to help you work out how to plan your novel. This planning helps you once you start the actual writing. It’s easier to tell your story\u2014actually get the writing done\u2014if you have worked out some of the details, or at least some of the dynamics above.<\/p>\n

    [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    [et_pb_section bb_built=”1″][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.15″] Writing and Organizing your Story Elements The first step in writing is thinking about the basics–your story elements. You’ll want to get comfortable asking yourself questions that will help you develop these elements that result in the spine of your story. Fleshing out as many of these details will ultimately help […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":""},"categories":[151],"tags":[157,163,169,159,161,158,160,164,156,166],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https://wp.me/p7O4ex-TAt","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":27791,"url":"https://howtoscrivener.com/use-scriveners-binder/","url_meta":{"origin":213681,"position":0},"title":"How To Use Scrivener's Binder","date":"September 9, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":" How to Use Scrivener's Binder he Scrivener Binder is a powerful scrivener feature designed to give the writer ultimate flexibility and control over the organization of his writing. 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