If you are writing a book for the very first time, it is best if you write a fiction book. A fiction book will give you a great deal more freedom to use your imagination, and it is generally more enjoyable. As enjoyable as writing a fiction book is though, it may also be tricky.
When it comes to writing a fiction book, it is important that you know the key elements. While there are a good number of genres in fiction that you could write, you should still have all the key elements when you write your book. If your work even lacks just one element, your work of fiction will feel incomplete. Here are the key elements of writing a fiction book.
- Setting
The setting is the time and place where your work of fiction will take place. When you write the setting of your story, you should be as detailed as possible. Remember that you are writing a fiction novel, so this gives you the option to create entire worlds from just your imagination. The science fiction and high fantasy genres are very good opportunities for world making. The setting of your book could take place in just one place and timeline, however, you could also jump from one setting to another, just as long as you keep track of these setting changes, and they don’t get distracting for the reader to understand.
- Theme
The theme is the all-encompassing message or motif that is used throughout the whole story. This is a very handy element because it allows you to delve into your story more effectively. When you choose the themes, you should make sure that they add context and layers to your story. There must be a reason for your theme, and they must work to move the overall storyline further.
- Cast of characters
If you want your work of fiction to be as immersive as possible, it is very important that you create a great cast of characters. Remember that your readers will see the story through your character’s eyes. If your cast of characters are unremarkable, you won’t be able to make an impact with your readers. When you create your cast of characters, the most important are the main character and the antagonist.
The main character is the most visible character within the story. The story will be seen through his or her eyes. All the events of the story will also happen to your main character. Try to make your main character as realistic and likeable as possible. Avoid making your main character too stereotypically perfect.
The same goes for your antagonist. The antagonist is the bringer of conflict in your work of fiction. However, this does not mean that your antagonist should be stereotypically villainous either. Your antagonist could even be a good person, and yet does not follow the same ideals as your main character, or they may have opposing viewpoints on a specific issue.
- Point of view
The point of view is the perspective that you write from. There are around three point of views that you could use. These are the first-person, second-person and third-person point of view. If you use the first-point of view, it is usually one of the characters narrating the story. This point of view mostly uses the “I” pronoun.
The second-person view on the other hand is based on the “you” pronoun. This point of view compels you to address your readers directly, and make them feel like they are truly part of the story. This point of view is rarely used in fiction writing though.
The third-person view is divided into the third-person omniscient point of view, the third-person limited omniscient view, and the third-person objective view. The omniscient view gives the reader access to all the character’s thoughts and feelings. The third-person limited omniscient view on the other hand only gives the reader access to the thoughts and feelings of one character. The third-person objective view has a more neutral narrator that does not have any access to the character’s thoughts. This view has a more observational tone. This point of view also uses the “he/she” third person pronouns.
- Style
In simpler terms, the style is how you write your story. This includes your word choice and how you arrange these words in your writing. When it comes to writing style in fiction, there is really no set style of writing that you will have to follow. What’s important is that your writing style will stay the same throughout the whole story. Nothing annoys a reader more than a writing style that keeps changing throughout the whole story.
- Plot
The plot is the overall structure of events that will take place in your story. When you write the plot for your story, you should remember that your story should have an exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and the denouement. The exposition is the part where the setting and the characters are introduced in the story.
The rising action is the longest part of the story, and usually builds the story up to the climax. The climax is the highest peak of the story, and usually where the motives of the characters are fulfilled, and the point of conflict is addressed and solved. The falling action are the immediate events of the climax, and is used to settle the loose ends of the plot and answer key questions in the story. The denouement is the final part of the story, and is used to tie up all the plot points of each character.
Conclusion
If you are thinking of writing a fiction book of your own, it is very important that you know the key elements that make up a fiction book. With this article, you will know about these elements and how to incorporate them into your work.