A Glossary of Basic Writing Terms You Need to Know if you Want to be a Fiction Writer:
I once was a beginner writer too, looking for ways to improve my craft. Naturally I looked up writing tips, but the creators were using terminology I did not understand. Fast forward a couple of years later and now I know a lot more than I knew before.
This one is for the newcomers out there, or anyone else who wants to brush up on their creative writing terminology.
Writing Terms for Creative Writers (In Alphabetical Order Because Why Not?):
Active Voice – when a sentence is structured so that the subject performs a verb. Subject ⟶ Verb ⟶ Object.
- Example:
- Active: Don wrote the book.
- Passive: The book was written by Don.
Antagonist – The character who works in opposition of the protagonist. The antagonist doesn’t necessarily have to be the “bad guy” or villain of the story. They are simply the force that attempts to stop the protagonist from accomplishing their goal.
Beat – a beat is an event or moment in a story that marks the development of the plot or a character. Individual scenes and the overall story are both made up of multiple beats. Beats push the story forward, from “point A” to “point B”
Beta Readers – are the first readers of your story who give feedback on your work. It’s like a test-run to see if your story works.
Characterization – is the process of defining a character’s personality and traits. Writers can characterize someone through exposition, dialogue, appearance, etc.— basically anything that adds to who they are as a person.
Climax – the most heightened or exciting point in a story. Takes place after the Rising Action and before the Falling Action.
Conflict – the struggle between two opposing forces
Deuteragonist – The “secondary main character” or second most important character in a story aside from the protagonist. The deuteragonist might be a supporting character or the protagonist, an opposing force, and/or the main driver of a subplot.
- Examples: Dr. Watson in Sherlock Holmes, Peeta in Hunger Games,
Diction – the word choice a writer uses to establish a specific tone or mood
Exposition – is the process of revealing (or exposing) information to the reader. It’s important to integrate your exposition strategically so you don’t leave your story feeling stagnant and boring.
Falling Action – the steady decrease in tension until a story reaches the resolution. Takes place after the Climax.
First Person Point of View – Narration from the perspective of a character in a story. Uses: I, my and me.
Foil Character – a character with qualities contrasting another character. The Foil is typically used to highlight certain traits of the protagonist
Imagery – the use of vivid, descriptive writing that appeals to the senses of the reader. Typically helps create a clear picture in the reader’s head.
How to Master Descriptive Writing
Inciting Incident – an event, often in the beginning of a story, when a dramatic change occurs to start the main story arc, plotline, or central conflict.
Info Dumping – is when the author gives excessive information to the reader all at once, leaving the story stagnant for a long time. Info dumping is often a bore to the reader, so try to avoid this.
Introspection – is when a character reflects on their inner thoughts and feelings. Types of introspection include rationalization, self-motivation, etc.
Juxtaposition – placing two ideas or concepts alongside one another to highlight their differences.
Metaphor – a comparison between two subjects without using “like” or “as,” typically used to help readers better visualize, understand, exaggerate or dramatize a description.
- Examples:
- The hallways were a maze.
Mood – the overall feeling, emotional state, or atmosphere a writer creates for its scene or setting
Pacing – the speed at which a story unfolds
Passive Voice – when a sentence is structured so that the subject is acted upon. Typically uses words like “was” and “were.” Object ⟶ Verb ⟶ Subject.
- Example:
- Active: Johnny picked up Sally on his motorcycle.
- Passive: Sally was picked up by Johnny on his motorcycle.
Plot – the sequence of events in a story that leads to a goal
Prose – is simply the way someone writes, void of any patterns, rhymes, etc. such as what you’d see in a poem. Prose is made up of several sentences and paragraphs laced together. Open up any fiction novel on any page, and there you will see prose.
Protagonist – The main character who drives the main plot of a story. The protagonist doesn’t necessarily need to be the hero or “good guy” of the story. They are simply the character we follow as they chase their goals
Purple Prose – is when an author writes too descriptive or “flowery,” in a way that is unnecessary and distracting to the reader.
Red Herring – In a classic mystery or thriller story, a red herring is information introduced into a story for the purpose of misleading the reader. Red Herrings are set up by skilled authors to add an element of surprise to the story.
Resolution – the final conclusion of a story where the main conflict comes to an end
Rising Action – the steady increase in tension until a story reaches the conflict. The Rising Action takes place after the Inciting Incident.
Second Person Point of View – narration where the reader is being addressed. Uses: you, your
Setting – where a story takes place. Takes into account time, place, environment, etc.
Simile – a comparison between two subjects using “like” or “as,” typically used to help better visualize, understand, exaggerate, or dramatize a description.
- Examples:
- He flashed a smile as bright as the sun.
- She crept behind her target like a predator stalking its prey
- She was as quiet as a mouse.
Stakes – are the risks your character is taking by attempting to complete their goal, or the consequence they must face if they do not complete a goal. Stakes act as a good motivator for why your character wants to accomplish something.
- Examples: Risk of death, losing someone, discovery, etc.
Subplot – the secondary sequence of events in a story that leads to a goal
Subtext – is the hidden meaning behind the words of an author. Or it is implying a meaning without actually saying it. Subtext can be found in dialogue, a character’s action, etc.
Symbolism – a symbol used to represent an idea, theme, or greater purpose.
Tension – the feeling of anticipation, unpredictability, uneasiness, or suspense that compels a reader to find out what happens next.
Theme – the central idea or message communicated throughout a story
Third Person Point of View – narration from the perspective of someone outside the story. Uses: he, she, they
Third Person Omniscient – “All knowing.” Narration from the perspective of someone outside the story who refers to the inner thoughts and feelings of all characters. Uses: he, she, they
Tone – the attitude presented throughout a narrative
- Examples: Sarcasm, Comedic, Mysterious, Seriousness
Voice – the unique personality or style of writing an author uses to tell a story
Writer’s Block – A temporary feeling when a writer does not know what content to write, how to approach writing, or how to progress their story. “Writer’s block” has many causes, including a lack of inspiration.
How to Overcome Writer’s Block
Zero Draft – the rough draft before the official first draft. The zero draft is usually messy and chaotic, combining the elements of plotting and crafting sentences