The beginning introduces the characters and sometimes shows a minor conflict. In its simplest form, a plot has a beginning, middle and end. It can contain multiple scenes and events. The plot explains what a story is about from beginning to end. The choice of words sets the mood and adds an extra layer of excitement to a story. While a fairy tale such as Cinderella uses light and warm language like magical, glittering, beautiful or happily ever after. For example in horror stories, you may notice dark language being used throughout, such as gore, dismal, damp or vile. Do you want them to be scared, excited or happy? It’s the way you explain and describe a particular location, object or person.

The mood is the feeling you want readers to feel when reading your story. The final part of the setting is the mood. For example, you don’t want to be talking about characters using mobile phones in the 18th century – It just wouldn’t make sense (Unless of course, it’s a time travel story)!

This can help you include accurate details about location and even key events. But it is a good idea that during the planning phase, you know the year or even dates the story is set in. You don’t always have to include the exact date or year in your story.

Some stories especially about time travel may be set across multiple time periods. The physical location is also something that can be included at the beginning of the story to set the story’s tone. It is a good idea to explain each new location in great detail, so the readers feel like they are also right there with the characters. For example, the tale of Cinderella takes part in two main locations: Cinderella’s Palace and the Ballroom at the Prince’s Palace. Location is the physical place/s the story takes part in mostly. The easiest element to understand is location. Settings in stories refer to three things: Location, Time Period and Mood. The only thing that changes is the lessons they learn, and how these impact them.Ĭheck out this post on 20 tips for character development for more guidance. Deep inside their personality should stay more or less the same. But be careful here – Growth should not be mistaken for a personality change! The main character must stay true to who they are. Depending on your plot, they might become a better person, or even a worse one – if this is a villain’s origin story. All the challenges and obstacles they face in the story allow them to learn, grow and develop. The main character also goes through changes throughout the story. You should also provide a hint to what this character’s major conflict is in the story (more on conflict later). While introducing this character it is a good idea to include key information about this character’s personality, past and physical appearance. The main character should be introduced at the beginning. Stories can also have multiple secondary characters, such as supporting characters and villain/s. Every story has at least one main character. CharactersĬharacters are the most familiar element in stories. 5 Elements Of A Storyīelow we have explained each of the five elements of a story in detail, along with examples. You may also notice that these story elements are what most book outlining techniques are based on. These five elements are a great place to start when you need help planning your story. The most universally used story elements contain just five building blocks: In fact, there can be as few as 4 elements in literature all the way up to 12 elements. Over the years, writers have adapted these elements to suit their writing process.

By understanding each element, you increase the chances of writing a better story or novel. Simply put, these elements remind writers what to include in stories, and what needs to be planned. Without these blocks, a story will break down, failing to meet the expectations of readers. Story elements are the building blocks needed to make a story work.

Elements of story anchor chart