A story is a connected sequence of events, real or fictional. It can entertain through novels and movies, inform through news and parables, or teach valuable lessons through fairy tales and fables.
Stories are everywhere in today’s media, including television and film, social media, music, stage performance, and fine arts. Whether they make us cry or laugh, stories connect with us on an emotional level.
Characters
A story needs characters to give the audience someone to root for and relate to. These individuals could be humans, animals, aliens, or any other creature that inhabits the fictional world. These characters are essential to the plot, providing the conflict that propels the story forward. They also provide a window into the world, reflecting inherent facets of human nature and life.
The main character is called the protagonist, and they drive the plot through their actions. Often, these characters are dynamic and change the story. For example, Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol transforms from a greedy miser to a benevolent man at the end of the story.
Other characters in a story can be either static or round. Static characters do not change, while round characters have several characteristics that make them interesting. For example, the ditzy prom queen or the loyal sidekick might have several traits that add depth to their personality.
Another common character type in a story is the antagonist. An antagonist is someone who wants something that directly contradicts the protagonist’s goal. A good example is the wicked stepmother in Cinderella. The protagonist and the antagonist will clash over their goals throughout the story. A deuteragonist is a secondary character who is closely tied to the protagonist and assists them on their journey. These individuals may be friends or archenemies, and they can bring a sense of warmth and heart to a story.
Plot
The plot is the series of events that occur throughout your story. It’s the skeleton that allows other literary devices, like characters and themes, to develop. A good plot will keep your reader invested, and it doesn’t necessarily need to feature Michael Bay-type action.
The key to a compelling story is strong character motivations and actions. For your readers to empathise with your protagonists, they must care about their choices. This requires engaging the main characters, who are often introduced through an inciting incident that sets the plot in motion.
A good plot will also include progressive complications that increase the stakes for your protagonists. This will lead to the climax, which is the most crucial moment in your story. It should be the pinnacle of tension, and it can alter your protagonist’s status in society, their outlook on life, or even their very survival.
Many different types of plot exist, and scholars and authors have attempted to categorise them. For example, the Hero’s Journey is a popular narrative structure in which the protagonist embarks on a journey to overcome an obstacle and return home transformed. Other examples of plot are the Quest, in which a character sets out to find treasure or love, and the Romance, in which a couple falls in and out of love.
Setting
Setting is the backdrop against which a story unfolds, providing vital context for the plot and character development. It can include everything from the physical location and geography to important social or historical contexts. Setting also describes how the world around a character influences actions, much like our environment affects our lives.
While a story can take place anywhere, any of these elements can influence a narrative and create an atmosphere for the story. It is not enough to simply describe the scene; every detail must be carefully considered, and each should contribute something beyond just showing readers where your characters are. The best descriptions are ones that add character and depth to your writing.
The period in which a story takes place is another important aspect of setting. It could be a specific day, a specific season, or a specific moment in history. It could even be a specific era, such as the 1960s or the medieval ages. This is all part of worldbuilding, a term used to refer to the extensive details a writer must build for an imaginary universe.
Whether your story is set in real life or not, it’s important to spend time carefully building your setting. A detailed setting immerses readers in your narrative, providing them with the necessary details to understand the plot and evoke an emotional response.
Theme
A story’s theme is its deeper meaning, conveying a broader viewpoint to readers through its characters and plot developments. It can explore universal human experiences or societal issues, encouraging readers to reflect on these themes in their own lives.
Themes are often expressed through a moral, a question or a specific idea that is at the heart of your story’s message. They are often reinforced by motifs, which are recurring images and symbols used to highlight the theme throughout the narrative. For example, the theme of power can be illustrated by the recurring motif of a tyrannical leader, as seen in George Orwell’s Animal Farm, or Daenerys Targaryen’s Quest for revenge in George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series.
Stories with themes are at the heart of every form of literature, from novels and short stories to plays and films. Each one is unique, with its own distinct character and plot development, but a common theme can weave the entire story together.
Having more than one theme in your story can also add depth and complexity to your narrative. However, be careful not to overdo it — too much emphasis on theme can cause your story to seem like a textbook, lecturing the audience instead of engaging them.
