1. Fiction Writing A piece of literature invented by the imagination
Can be inspired by fact
Can be based entirely on the fantastic
Types of Fiction
Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Science Fiction
Fantasy, Myths, Fairy Tales, Fables

2. Characters WHO the story is about
People or animals that take part in the action

3. Characters
When trying to learn about a character in a story, think about the following things:
Traits
Motivation
Conflict
Point of View

4. Character Traits Interesting things about a character.
A trait is what makes a character different from other characters
Examples:
Hair/eye color
Height & weight
Age
Dislikes, opinions, actions

5. Motivation Something that causes one to act in a certain way
A motivation is the reason WHY a character does something.
Example:
You eat because you are hungry.

6. Conflict
A disagreement, fight, or struggle between two people or groups
Example:
You want ice cream before dinner, but your mom says no. You and your mom disagree about when you should be able to eat ice cream.

7. Characterization
Foil - a character whose personality and attitude is opposite the personality and attitude of another character.
Protagonist - the main character
Antagonist - the main opponent (enemy) of the main character

8. Point of View
Point of View is the perspective from which a fiction story is told.
Point of view affects what kinds of details are revealed to the reader.

9. First-Person Point of View
The storyteller is a character who participates in the action of the story.
The storyteller will use first-person pronouns I and me

10. Second-Person Point of View
The narrator is giving directions or speaking directly to someone.
The narrator will use the word you.

11. Third-Person Point of View
The narrator is NOT a character in the story.
The narrator will use third-person pronouns she and he, and they.

12. Third-Person Point of View
Third Person Limited
The narrator is NOT participating in the action, but his/her knowledge of the situation is limited to only one character.
Third Person Omniscient
The narrator is NOT participating in the action, but he/she has unlimited knowledge about any or all of the characters.

13. Setting WHERE and WHEN the story takes place
How a story is set in terms of the place, time period, weather, social conditions, mood (atmosphere)
Examples:
1800’s
Castle
A dark and stormy night

14. Plot WHAT happens in the story
The sequence of events that every story is made of
Usually divided into five parts:
Exposition
Rising Action
Climax
Falling Action
Resolution

15. Plot

16. Plot Exposition Rising Action
Introduces the setting, characters, and the basic situation
Rising Action
Introduces the conflict

17. Plot Climax Falling Action The turning point of the story
The part of the story when the conflict lessens

18. Plot
Resolution
The conclusion of the story

19. Theme
A theme is a universal truth explored in a piece of writing often in the form of a life lesson or moral.
A message from the author that makes the reader think about life, human nature, or how the world works.
Broad ideas that can apply to ALL people
Must be inferred by the reader

20. Theme
Theme is NOT…
The subject of the story or the topic of the story.
For example, an author could write about a brave young girl during the Revolutionary War era. The young girl is the subject of the story. The theme of this story, however, could be: It is important to stand up for one’s rights.
Many stories have at least one theme, but some have more than one.