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of prose fiction subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Categories_of_prose_fiction-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Genre_fiction" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Genre_fiction"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.1</span> <span>Genre fiction</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Genre_fiction-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Literary_fiction" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Literary_fiction"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.2</span> <span>Literary fiction</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Literary_fiction-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Elements_of_fiction" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Elements_of_fiction"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2</span> <span>Elements of fiction</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Elements_of_fiction-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Elements of fiction subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Elements_of_fiction-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Character" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Character"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.1</span> <span>Character</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Character-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Plot" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Plot"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.2</span> <span>Plot</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Plot-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Setting" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Setting"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.3</span> <span>Setting</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Setting-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Theme" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Theme"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.4</span> <span>Theme</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Theme-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Style" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Style"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.5</span> <span>Style</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Style-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Narrator" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Narrator"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.5.1</span> <span>Narrator</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Narrator-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Point_of_view" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Point_of_view"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.5.2</span> <span>Point of view</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Point_of_view-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Tone" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Tone"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.5.3</span> <span>Tone</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Tone-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Suspension_of_disbelief" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-3"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Suspension_of_disbelief"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.5.4</span> <span>Suspension of disbelief</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Suspension_of_disbelief-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Authors'_views_on_writing" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Authors'_views_on_writing"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3</span> <span>Authors' views on writing</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Authors'_views_on_writing-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-See_also" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#See_also"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4</span> <span>See also</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-See_also-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Bibliography" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Bibliography"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5</span> <span>Bibliography</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Bibliography-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-References" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#References"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6</span> <span>References</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-References-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle References subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-References-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Works_cited" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Works_cited"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6.1</span> <span>Works cited</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Works_cited-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-External_links" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#External_links"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7</span> <span>External links</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-External_links-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="mw-content-container"> <main id="content" class="mw-body"> <header class="mw-body-header vector-page-titlebar"> <nav aria-label="Contents" class="vector-toc-landmark"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown vector-page-titlebar-toc vector-button-flush-left" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Toggle the table of contents" > <label id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-label" for="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only " aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-listBullet mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-listBullet"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Toggle the table of contents</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-unpinned-container" class="vector-unpinned-container"> </div> </div> </div> </nav> <h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading mw-first-heading"><span class="mw-page-title-main">Fiction writing</span></h1> <div id="p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown mw-portlet mw-portlet-lang" > <input type="checkbox" id="p-lang-btn-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox mw-interlanguage-selector" aria-label="Go to an article in another language. Available in 19 languages" > <label id="p-lang-btn-label" for="p-lang-btn-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--action-progressive mw-portlet-lang-heading-19" aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-language-progressive mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-language-progressive"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">19 languages</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-be mw-list-item"><a href="https://be.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9C%D0%B0%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0%D1%86%D0%BA%D0%B0%D1%8F_%D0%BB%D1%96%D1%82%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%83%D1%80%D0%B0" title="Мастацкая літаратура – Belarusian" lang="be" hreflang="be" data-title="Мастацкая літаратура" data-language-autonym="Беларуская" data-language-local-name="Belarusian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Беларуская</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-be-x-old mw-list-item"><a href="https://be-tarask.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9C%D0%B0%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0%D1%86%D0%BA%D0%B0%D1%8F_%D0%BB%D1%96%D1%82%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%83%D1%80%D0%B0" title="Мастацкая літаратура – Belarusian (Taraškievica orthography)" lang="be-tarask" hreflang="be-tarask" data-title="Мастацкая літаратура" data-language-autonym="Беларуская (тарашкевіца)" data-language-local-name="Belarusian (Taraškievica orthography)" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Беларуская (тарашкевіца)</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bg mw-list-item"><a href="https://bg.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A5%D1%83%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%B6%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D0%BB%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%83%D1%80%D0%B0" title="Художествена литература – Bulgarian" lang="bg" hreflang="bg" data-title="Художествена литература" data-language-autonym="Български" data-language-local-name="Bulgarian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Български</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-cv mw-list-item"><a href="https://cv.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%98%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%BB%C4%95_%D0%BB%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%83%D1%80%D0%B0" title="Илемлĕ литература – Chuvash" lang="cv" hreflang="cv" data-title="Илемлĕ литература" data-language-autonym="Чӑвашла" data-language-local-name="Chuvash" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Чӑвашла</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-cy mw-list-item"><a href="https://cy.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llenyddiaeth_ffuglen" title="Llenyddiaeth ffuglen – Welsh" lang="cy" hreflang="cy" data-title="Llenyddiaeth ffuglen" data-language-autonym="Cymraeg" data-language-local-name="Welsh" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Cymraeg</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-da mw-list-item"><a href="https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiktionsskrivning" title="Fiktionsskrivning – Danish" lang="da" hreflang="da" data-title="Fiktionsskrivning" data-language-autonym="Dansk" data-language-local-name="Danish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Dansk</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ko mw-list-item"><a href="https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%ED%97%88%EA%B5%AC%EB%AC%B8" title="허구문 – Korean" lang="ko" hreflang="ko" data-title="허구문" data-language-autonym="한국어" data-language-local-name="Korean" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>한국어</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hi mw-list-item"><a href="https://hi.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA_%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%96%E0%A4%A8" title="गल्प लेखन – Hindi" lang="hi" hreflang="hi" data-title="गल्प लेखन" data-language-autonym="हिन्दी" data-language-local-name="Hindi" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>हिन्दी</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ce mw-list-item"><a href="https://ce.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%98%D1%81%D0%B1%D0%B0%D1%8C%D1%85%D1%8C%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%BD_%D0%BB%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%83%D1%80%D0%B0" title="Исбаьхьаллин литература – Chechen" lang="ce" hreflang="ce" data-title="Исбаьхьаллин литература" data-language-autonym="Нохчийн" data-language-local-name="Chechen" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Нохчийн</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ps mw-list-item"><a href="https://ps.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%AF_%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%84_%D8%AA%D8%B1%DA%A9%D9%8A%D8%A8%D9%8A_%D8%A7%D8%AC%D8%B2%D8%A7%D9%88%DB%90" title="د ناول ترکيبي اجزاوې – Pashto" lang="ps" hreflang="ps" data-title="د ناول ترکيبي اجزاوې" data-language-autonym="پښتو" data-language-local-name="Pashto" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>پښتو</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pl mw-list-item"><a href="https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fikcja_literacka" title="Fikcja literacka – Polish" lang="pl" hreflang="pl" data-title="Fikcja literacka" data-language-autonym="Polski" data-language-local-name="Polish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Polski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-crh mw-list-item"><a href="https://crh.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bediiy_edebiyat" title="Bediiy edebiyat – Crimean Tatar" lang="crh" hreflang="crh" data-title="Bediiy edebiyat" data-language-autonym="Qırımtatarca" data-language-local-name="Crimean Tatar" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Qırımtatarca</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ru mw-list-item"><a href="https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A5%D1%83%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%B6%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%8F_%D0%BB%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%83%D1%80%D0%B0" title="Художественная литература – Russian" lang="ru" hreflang="ru" data-title="Художественная литература" data-language-autonym="Русский" data-language-local-name="Russian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Русский</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sk mw-list-item"><a href="https://sk.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umeleck%C3%A1_literat%C3%BAra" title="Umelecká literatúra – Slovak" lang="sk" hreflang="sk" data-title="Umelecká literatúra" data-language-autonym="Slovenčina" data-language-local-name="Slovak" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Slovenčina</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fi mw-list-item"><a href="https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiktio_kaunokirjallisuudessa" title="Fiktio kaunokirjallisuudessa – Finnish" lang="fi" hreflang="fi" data-title="Fiktio kaunokirjallisuudessa" data-language-autonym="Suomi" data-language-local-name="Finnish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Suomi</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-tg mw-list-item"><a href="https://tg.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%90%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%B1%D0%B8%D1%91%D1%82%D0%B8_%D0%B1%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%B5%D3%A3" title="Адабиёти бадеӣ – Tajik" lang="tg" hreflang="tg" data-title="Адабиёти бадеӣ" data-language-autonym="Тоҷикӣ" data-language-local-name="Tajik" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Тоҷикӣ</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-tr mw-list-item"><a href="https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurgu_yaz%C4%B1m%C4%B1" title="Kurgu yazımı – Turkish" lang="tr" hreflang="tr" data-title="Kurgu yazımı" data-language-autonym="Türkçe" data-language-local-name="Turkish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Türkçe</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-uk mw-list-item"><a href="https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A5%D1%83%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%B6%D0%BD%D1%8F_%D0%BB%D1%96%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%83%D1%80%D0%B0" title="Художня література – Ukrainian" lang="uk" hreflang="uk" data-title="Художня література" data-language-autonym="Українська" data-language-local-name="Ukrainian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Українська</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ur mw-list-item"><a href="https://ur.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%84_%DA%A9%DB%92_%D8%A7%D8%AC%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%A6%DB%92_%D8%AA%D8%B1%DA%A9%DB%8C%D8%A8%DB%8C" title="ناول کے اجزائے ترکیبی – Urdu" lang="ur" hreflang="ur" data-title="ناول کے اجزائے ترکیبی" data-language-autonym="اردو" data-language-local-name="Urdu" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>اردو</span></a></li> </ul> <div class="after-portlet after-portlet-lang"><span class="wb-langlinks-edit wb-langlinks-link"><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Special:EntityPage/Q38072107#sitelinks-wikipedia" title="Edit interlanguage links" class="wbc-editpage">Edit links</a></span></div> </div> </div> </div> </header> <div class="vector-page-toolbar"> <div class="vector-page-toolbar-container"> <div id="left-navigation"> <nav aria-label="Namespaces"> <div id="p-associated-pages" class="vector-menu vector-menu-tabs mw-portlet mw-portlet-associated-pages" > <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li 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.hatnote{display:none!important}}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">This article is about writing fiction prose. For fiction as a concept, see <a href="/wiki/Fiction" title="Fiction">fiction</a>.</div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1251242444">.mw-parser-output .ambox{border:1px solid #a2a9b1;border-left:10px solid #36c;background-color:#fbfbfb;box-sizing:border-box}.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+style+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+style+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+link+.ambox{margin-top:-1px}html body.mediawiki .mw-parser-output .ambox.mbox-small-left{margin:4px 1em 4px 0;overflow:hidden;width:238px;border-collapse:collapse;font-size:88%;line-height:1.25em}.mw-parser-output .ambox-speedy{border-left:10px solid #b32424;background-color:#fee7e6}.mw-parser-output .ambox-delete{border-left:10px solid #b32424}.mw-parser-output .ambox-content{border-left:10px solid #f28500}.mw-parser-output .ambox-style{border-left:10px solid #fc3}.mw-parser-output .ambox-move{border-left:10px solid #9932cc}.mw-parser-output .ambox-protection{border-left:10px solid #a2a9b1}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-text{border:none;padding:0.25em 0.5em;width:100%}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-image{border:none;padding:2px 0 2px 0.5em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-imageright{border:none;padding:2px 0.5em 2px 0;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-empty-cell{border:none;padding:0;width:1px}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-image-div{width:52px}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .ambox{margin:0 10%}}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .ambox{display:none!important}}</style><table class="box-More_footnotes_needed plainlinks metadata ambox ambox-style ambox-More_footnotes_needed" role="presentation"><tbody><tr><td class="mbox-image"><div class="mbox-image-div"><span typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Text_document_with_red_question_mark.svg/40px-Text_document_with_red_question_mark.svg.png" decoding="async" width="40" height="40" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Text_document_with_red_question_mark.svg/60px-Text_document_with_red_question_mark.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Text_document_with_red_question_mark.svg/80px-Text_document_with_red_question_mark.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="48" data-file-height="48" /></span></span></div></td><td class="mbox-text"><div class="mbox-text-span">This article includes a list of <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources#General_references" title="Wikipedia:Citing sources">general references</a>, but <b>it lacks sufficient corresponding <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources#Inline_citations" title="Wikipedia:Citing sources">inline citations</a></b>.<span class="hide-when-compact"> Please help to <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject_Reliability" title="Wikipedia:WikiProject Reliability">improve</a> this article by <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:When_to_cite" title="Wikipedia:When to cite">introducing</a> more precise citations.</span> <span class="date-container"><i>(<span class="date">March 2018</span>)</i></span><span class="hide-when-compact"><i> (<small><a href="/wiki/Help:Maintenance_template_removal" title="Help:Maintenance template removal">Learn how and when to remove this message</a></small>)</i></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <p><b>Fiction writing</b> is the composition of non-factual prose texts. Fictional writing often is produced as a story meant to entertain or convey an author's point of view. The result of this may be a <a href="/wiki/Short_story" title="Short story">short story</a>, novel, <a href="/wiki/Novella" title="Novella">novella</a>, <a href="/wiki/Screenplay" title="Screenplay">screenplay</a>, or <a href="/wiki/Drama" title="Drama">drama</a>, which are all types (though not the only types) of fictional writing styles. Different types of <a href="/wiki/Author" title="Author">authors</a> practice fictional writing, including <a href="/wiki/Novelists" class="mw-redirect" title="Novelists">novelists</a>, <a href="/wiki/Playwrights" class="mw-redirect" title="Playwrights">playwrights</a>, short story writers, <a href="/wiki/Radio_drama" title="Radio drama">radio dramatists</a> and <a href="/wiki/Screenwriters" class="mw-redirect" title="Screenwriters">screenwriters</a>. </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Categories_of_prose_fiction">Categories of prose fiction</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Fiction_writing&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Categories of prose fiction"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Fiction#Categories_of_fiction" title="Fiction">Fiction § Categories of fiction</a></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Genre_fiction">Genre fiction</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Fiction_writing&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Genre fiction"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>A <a href="/wiki/Genre" title="Genre">genre</a> is the subject matter or category that writers use. For instance, <a href="/wiki/Science_fiction" title="Science fiction">science fiction</a>, <a href="/wiki/Fantasy" title="Fantasy">fantasy</a> and <a href="/wiki/Mystery_fiction" title="Mystery fiction">mystery fiction</a> are genres. <a href="/wiki/Genre_fiction" title="Genre fiction">Genre fiction</a> also known as popular fiction, is plot-driven <a href="/wiki/Fiction" title="Fiction">fictional works</a> written with the intent of fitting into a specific <a href="/wiki/Literary_genre" title="Literary genre">literary genre</a>, to appeal to readers and fans already familiar with that genre.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Genre fiction is storytelling driven by plot, as opposed to literary fiction, which focuses more on theme and character. Genre fiction, or popular fiction, is written to appeal to a large audience and it sells more primarily because it is more commercialized. An example is the <a href="/wiki/Twilight_(novel_series)" title="Twilight (novel series)"><i>Twilight</i> series</a> by <a href="/wiki/Stephenie_Meyer" title="Stephenie Meyer">Stephenie Meyer</a> which may sell more than <a href="/wiki/Herman_Melville" title="Herman Melville">Herman Melville</a>'s <i><a href="/wiki/Moby-Dick" title="Moby-Dick">Moby-Dick</a></i>, because the <i>Twilight</i> novels deal with elements of <a href="/wiki/Popular_culture" title="Popular culture">pop culture</a>—romance and vampires. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Literary_fiction">Literary fiction</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Fiction_writing&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Literary fiction"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><a href="/wiki/Literary_fiction" title="Literary fiction">Literary fiction</a> is fictional works that hold <a href="/wiki/Literary_merit" class="mw-redirect" title="Literary merit">literary merit</a>. They are works that offer <a href="/wiki/Social_commentary" title="Social commentary">social commentary</a>, or <a href="/wiki/Political_criticism" title="Political criticism">political criticism</a>, or focus on an aspect of the <a href="/wiki/Human_condition" title="Human condition">human condition</a>. </p><p>Literary fiction is usually contrasted with, popular, commercial, or genre fiction. Some have described the difference between them in terms of analyzing reality (literary) rather than escaping reality (popular). The contrast between these two categories of fiction is <a href="/wiki/Western_canon#Debate" title="Western canon">controversial</a> among some critics and scholars. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Elements_of_fiction">Elements of fiction</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Fiction_writing&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Elements of fiction"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Character">Character</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Fiction_writing&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Character"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><a href="/wiki/Characterization" title="Characterization">Characterization</a> is one of the five elements of fiction, along with plot, setting, theme, and writing style. A character is a participant in the story, and is usually a person, but may be any persona, identity, or entity whose existence originates from a fictional work or performance. </p><p>Characters may be of several types: </p> <ul><li>Point-of-view character: the character by whom the story is viewed. The point-of-view character may or may not also be the main character in the story.</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Protagonist" title="Protagonist">Protagonist</a>: the main character of a story</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Antagonist" title="Antagonist">Antagonist</a>: the character who stands in opposition to the protagonist</li> <li>Minor character: a character that interacts with the protagonist. They help the story move along.</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Foil_(literature)" class="mw-redirect" title="Foil (literature)">Foil character</a>: a (usually minor) character who has traits opposed to those of the main character.</li></ul> <p>According to <a href="/wiki/Robert_McKee" title="Robert McKee">Robert McKee</a>, "True character is revealed in the choices a human being makes under pressure—the greater the pressure, the deeper the revelation, the truer the choice to the character's essential nature."<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Plot">Plot</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Fiction_writing&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Plot"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The <a href="/wiki/Plot_(narrative)" title="Plot (narrative)">plot</a>, or storyline, is the rendering and ordering of the events and actions of a story. Starting with the initiating event, then the rising action, conflict, climax, falling action, and possibly ending with a resolution. </p><p>Plot consists of action and reaction, also referred to as stimulus and response, and has a beginning, a middle, and an ending. </p><p>The climax of the novel consists of a single action-packed sentence in which the conflict (problem) of the novel is resolved. This sentence comes towards the end of the novel. The main part of the action should come before the climax. </p><p>Plot also has a mid-level structure: scene and sequel. A scene is a unit of drama—where the action occurs. Then, after a transition of some sort, comes the sequel—an emotional reaction and regrouping, an aftermath. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Setting">Setting</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Fiction_writing&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Setting"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><a href="/wiki/Setting_(fiction)" class="mw-redirect" title="Setting (fiction)">Setting</a> is the locale and time of a story. The setting is often a real place but may be a fictitious city or country within our own world; a different planet; or an alternate universe, which may or may not have similarities with our own universe. Sometimes setting is referred to as <a href="/wiki/Social_environment" title="Social environment">milieu</a>, to include a context (such as society) beyond the immediate surroundings of the story. It is basically where and when the story takes place. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Theme">Theme</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Fiction_writing&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Theme"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><a href="/wiki/Theme_(literary)" class="mw-redirect" title="Theme (literary)">Theme</a> is what the author is trying to tell the reader. For example, the belief in the ultimate good in people, or that things are not always what they seem. This is often referred to as the "moral of the story." Some fiction contains advanced themes like morality, or the value of life, whereas other stories have no theme, or a very shallow one. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Style">Style</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Fiction_writing&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Style"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><a href="/wiki/Style_(fiction)" class="mw-redirect" title="Style (fiction)">Style</a> includes the multitude of choices fiction writers make, consciously or not, in the process of writing a story. It encompasses not only the big-picture, strategic choices such as point of view and choice of <a href="/wiki/Narration" title="Narration">narrator</a>, but also tactical choices of grammar, punctuation, word usage, sentence and paragraph length and structure, tone, the use of imagery, chapter selection, titles, etc. In the process of creating a story, these choices meld to become the writer's voice, their own unique style. </p><p>For each piece of fiction, the author makes many choices, consciously or subconsciously, which combine to form the writer's unique style. The components of style are numerous, but include point of view, choice of narrator, fiction-writing mode, person and tense, grammar, punctuation, word usage, sentence length and structure, paragraph length and structure, tone, imagery, chapter usage, and title selection. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Narrator">Narrator</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Fiction_writing&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: Narrator"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The <a href="/wiki/Narration" title="Narration">narrator</a> is the storyteller. The main character in the book can also be the narrator. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Point_of_view">Point of view</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Fiction_writing&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: Point of view"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><a href="/wiki/Point_of_view_(literature)" class="mw-redirect" title="Point of view (literature)">Point of view</a> is the perspective (or type of personal or non-personal "lens") through which a story is communicated. Narrative point of view or narrative perspective describes the position of the narrator, that is, the character of the storyteller, in relation to the story being told.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Tone">Tone</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Fiction_writing&action=edit&section=12" title="Edit section: Tone"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The <a href="/wiki/Tone_(literature)" title="Tone (literature)">tone</a> of a literary work expresses the writer's attitude toward or feelings about the subject matter and audience.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Suspension_of_disbelief">Suspension of disbelief</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Fiction_writing&action=edit&section=13" title="Edit section: Suspension of disbelief"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><a href="/wiki/Suspension_of_disbelief" title="Suspension of disbelief">Suspension of disbelief</a> is the reader's temporary acceptance of story elements as believable, regardless of how implausible they may seem in real life. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Authors'_views_on_writing"><span id="Authors.27_views_on_writing"></span>Authors' views on writing</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Fiction_writing&action=edit&section=14" title="Edit section: Authors' views on writing"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><a href="/wiki/Ernest_Hemingway" title="Ernest Hemingway">Ernest Hemingway</a> wrote "Prose is architecture, not interior decoration."<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup class="noprint Inline-Template" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources" title="Wikipedia:Citing sources"><span title="This citation requires a reference to the specific page or range of pages in which the material appears. (June 2016)">page needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p><p><a href="/wiki/Stephen_King" title="Stephen King">Stephen King</a>, in his <a href="/wiki/Non-fiction" title="Non-fiction">non-fiction</a>, part autobiographical, part self-help writing memoir, <i><a href="/wiki/On_Writing:_A_Memoir_of_the_Craft" title="On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft">On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft</a></i>, he gives readers advice on honing their craft: "Description begins in the writer's imagination, but should finish in the reader's."<sup class="noprint Inline-Template" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources" title="Wikipedia:Citing sources"><span title="This citation requires a reference to the specific page or range of pages in which the material appears. (June 2016)">page needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p><p><a href="/wiki/Kurt_Vonnegut" title="Kurt Vonnegut">Kurt Vonnegut</a> the author of praised novels <i><a href="/wiki/Cat%27s_Cradle" title="Cat's Cradle">Cat's Cradle</a></i>, <i><a href="/wiki/Slaughterhouse-Five" title="Slaughterhouse-Five">Slaughterhouse-Five</a></i>, and <i><a href="/wiki/Breakfast_of_Champions" title="Breakfast of Champions">Breakfast of Champions</a></i>, has given his readers, from his short story collection, <i><a href="/wiki/Bagombo_Snuff_Box" title="Bagombo Snuff Box">Bagombo Snuff Box</a></i>, eight rules on how to write a successful story. The list can be found in the introduction of the collection. </p><p>"Now lend me your ears. Here is Creative Writing 101: </p> <ol><li>Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted.</li> <li>Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.</li> <li>Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.</li> <li>Every sentence must do one of two things—reveal character or advance the action.</li> <li>Start as close to the end as possible.</li> <li>Be a sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them—in order that the reader may see what they are made of.</li> <li>Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.</li> <li>Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible. To heck with suspense. Readers should have such complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they could finish the story themselves, should cockroaches eat the last few pages."</li></ol> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Fiction_writing&action=edit&section=15" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1184024115">.mw-parser-output .div-col{margin-top:0.3em;column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .div-col-small{font-size:90%}.mw-parser-output .div-col-rules{column-rule:1px solid #aaa}.mw-parser-output .div-col dl,.mw-parser-output .div-col ol,.mw-parser-output .div-col ul{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .div-col li,.mw-parser-output .div-col dd{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}</style><div class="div-col" style="column-width: 22em;"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Creative_writing" title="Creative writing">Creative writing</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fan_fiction" title="Fan fiction">Fan fiction</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fiction" title="Fiction">Fiction</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Figure_of_speech" title="Figure of speech">Figure of speech</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Foreshadowing" title="Foreshadowing">Foreshadowing</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_writers%27_conferences" title="List of writers' conferences">List of writers' conferences</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Literary_criticism" title="Literary criticism">Literary criticism</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Literary_festival" title="Literary festival">Literary festival</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Literary_fiction" title="Literary fiction">Literary fiction</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Literary_technique" class="mw-redirect" title="Literary technique">Literary technique</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Literature" title="Literature">Literature</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Novelist" title="Novelist">Novelist</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/A_Reader%27s_Manifesto" title="A Reader's Manifesto">A Reader's Manifesto</a></i></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Show,_don%27t_tell" title="Show, don't tell">Show, don't tell</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Writer" title="Writer">Writer</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Writer%27s_block" title="Writer's block">Writer's block</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Writing_style" title="Writing style">Writing style</a></li></ul> </div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Bibliography">Bibliography</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Fiction_writing&action=edit&section=16" title="Edit section: Bibliography"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite id="CITEREFVonnegut1999" class="citation book cs1"><a href="/wiki/Kurt_Vonnegut" title="Kurt Vonnegut">Vonnegut, Kurt</a> (1999). <a href="/wiki/Bagombo_Snuff_Box" title="Bagombo Snuff Box"><i>Bagombo Snuff Box</i></a>. G. Putnam's Sons. pp. 9–10, –154. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-399-14505-2" title="Special:BookSources/0-399-14505-2"><bdi>0-399-14505-2</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Bagombo+Snuff+Box&rft.pages=9-10%2C+-154&rft.pub=G.+Putnam%27s+Sons&rft.date=1999&rft.isbn=0-399-14505-2&rft.aulast=Vonnegut&rft.aufirst=Kurt&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AFiction+writing" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFKing2000" class="citation book cs1"><a href="/wiki/Stephen_King" title="Stephen King">King, Stephen</a> (2000). <a href="/wiki/On_Writing:_A_Memoir_of_the_Craft" title="On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft"><i>On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft</i></a>. Scribner. pp. 153–, –154. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-684-85352-3" title="Special:BookSources/0-684-85352-3"><bdi>0-684-85352-3</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=On+Writing%3A+A+Memoir+of+the+Craft&rft.pages=153-%2C+-154&rft.pub=Scribner&rft.date=2000&rft.isbn=0-684-85352-3&rft.aulast=King&rft.aufirst=Stephen&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AFiction+writing" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li>Abbott, Jillian (Sep, 2005). "How to keep tabs on your novel's progress". <i>The Writer</i>, p. 39.</li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFFrey1987" class="citation book cs1"><a href="/wiki/James_Frey" title="James Frey">Frey, James N.</a> (1987). <span class="id-lock-registration" title="Free registration required"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/howtowritedamngo00frey/page/164"><i>How to Write a Damn Good Novel</i></a></span>. New York: St. Martin's Press. p. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/howtowritedamngo00frey/page/164">164</a>. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-312-01044-3" title="Special:BookSources/0-312-01044-3"><bdi>0-312-01044-3</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=How+to+Write+a+Damn+Good+Novel&rft.place=New+York&rft.pages=164&rft.pub=St.+Martin%27s+Press&rft.date=1987&rft.isbn=0-312-01044-3&rft.aulast=Frey&rft.aufirst=James+N.&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.org%2Fdetails%2Fhowtowritedamngo00frey%2Fpage%2F164&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AFiction+writing" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFTom2004" class="citation book cs1">Tom, Monteleone (2004). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=dOMZB4jSXU4C"><i>The Complete Idiot's Guide to Writing a Novel</i></a>. Scribner. p. 51. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-59257-172-7" title="Special:BookSources/1-59257-172-7"><bdi>1-59257-172-7</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Complete+Idiot%27s+Guide+to+Writing+a+Novel&rft.pages=51&rft.pub=Scribner&rft.date=2004&rft.isbn=1-59257-172-7&rft.aulast=Tom&rft.aufirst=Monteleone&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DdOMZB4jSXU4C&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AFiction+writing" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFLeder,_Meg2002" class="citation book cs1">Leder, Meg, ed. (2002). <span class="id-lock-registration" title="Free registration required"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/completehandbook00lede"><i>The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing</i></a></span>. Writer's Digest Books. p. 324. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-58297-160-9" title="Special:BookSources/1-58297-160-9"><bdi>1-58297-160-9</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Complete+Handbook+of+Novel+Writing&rft.pages=324&rft.pub=Writer%27s+Digest+Books&rft.date=2002&rft.isbn=1-58297-160-9&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.org%2Fdetails%2Fcompletehandbook00lede&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AFiction+writing" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFLou_Willett1994" class="citation book cs1">Lou Willett, Stanek (1994). <span class="id-lock-registration" title="Free registration required"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/soyouwanttowrite0000stan"><i>So You Want to Write a Novel</i></a></span>. Avon Books. p. 15. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-380-77688-X" title="Special:BookSources/0-380-77688-X"><bdi>0-380-77688-X</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=So+You+Want+to+Write+a+Novel&rft.pages=15&rft.pub=Avon+Books&rft.date=1994&rft.isbn=0-380-77688-X&rft.aulast=Lou+Willett&rft.aufirst=Stanek&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.org%2Fdetails%2Fsoyouwanttowrite0000stan&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AFiction+writing" class="Z3988"></span></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Fiction_writing&action=edit&section=17" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFFrench" class="citation web cs1">French, Christy Tillery. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.authorsden.com/categories/article_top.asp?catid=10&id=18884">"Literary Fiction vs Genre Fiction"</a>. <i>AuthorsDen</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">10 April</span> 2013</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=unknown&rft.jtitle=AuthorsDen&rft.atitle=Literary+Fiction+vs+Genre+Fiction&rft.aulast=French&rft.aufirst=Christy+Tillery&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.authorsden.com%2Fcategories%2Farticle_top.asp%3Fcatid%3D10%26id%3D18884&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AFiction+writing" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFMcKee1999" class="citation book cs1">McKee, Robert (1999). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/41503463"><i>Story : substance, structure, style, and the principles of screenwriting</i></a> ([Paperback ed.] ed.). London: Methuen. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-413-71560-4" title="Special:BookSources/0-413-71560-4"><bdi>0-413-71560-4</bdi></a>. <a href="/wiki/OCLC_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="OCLC (identifier)">OCLC</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/41503463">41503463</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Story+%3A+substance%2C+structure%2C+style%2C+and+the+principles+of+screenwriting&rft.place=London&rft.edition=%5BPaperback+ed.%5D&rft.pub=Methuen&rft.date=1999&rft_id=info%3Aoclcnum%2F41503463&rft.isbn=0-413-71560-4&rft.aulast=McKee&rft.aufirst=Robert&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldcat.org%2Foclc%2F41503463&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AFiction+writing" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFJames_McCracken2011" class="citation book cs1">James McCracken, ed. (2011). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.oed.com/"><i>The Oxford English Dictionary</i></a> (Online ed.). Oxford University Press<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">October 16,</span> 2011</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Oxford+English+Dictionary&rft.edition=Online&rft.pub=Oxford+University+Press&rft.date=2011&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.oed.com%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AFiction+writing" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFBrownsteinWeinerGreenHilbert1992">Brownstein et al. (1992</a>, p. 66)</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-5">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFHacker1991">Hacker (1991</a>, p. 51)</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Charles Poore, <i>New York Times</i>, "Hemingway's Quality Built On a Stern Apprenticeship", ?, ?1954, p. ?)</span> </li> </ol></div></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Works_cited">Works cited</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Fiction_writing&action=edit&section=18" title="Edit section: Works cited"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFBrownsteinWeinerGreenHilbert1992" class="citation cs2">Brownstein, Samuel C.; Weiner, Mitchel; Green, Sharon Weiner; Hilbert, Stephen (1992), <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/howtoprepareforg00brow"><i>How to Prepare for the GRE General Test</i></a> (10th ed.), New York: Barron's Educational Series, <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-8120-4957-8" title="Special:BookSources/0-8120-4957-8"><bdi>0-8120-4957-8</bdi></a></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=How+to+Prepare+for+the+GRE+General+Test&rft.place=New+York&rft.edition=10th&rft.pub=Barron%27s+Educational+Series&rft.date=1992&rft.isbn=0-8120-4957-8&rft.aulast=Brownstein&rft.aufirst=Samuel+C.&rft.au=Weiner%2C+Mitchel&rft.au=Green%2C+Sharon+Weiner&rft.au=Hilbert%2C+Stephen&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.org%2Fdetails%2Fhowtoprepareforg00brow&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AFiction+writing" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFHacker1991" class="citation cs2">Hacker, Diana (1991), <i>The Bedford Handbook for Writers</i> (3rd ed.), Boston: Bedford, <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-312-05599-4" title="Special:BookSources/0-312-05599-4"><bdi>0-312-05599-4</bdi></a></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Bedford+Handbook+for+Writers&rft.place=Boston&rft.edition=3rd&rft.pub=Bedford&rft.date=1991&rft.isbn=0-312-05599-4&rft.aulast=Hacker&rft.aufirst=Diana&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AFiction+writing" class="Z3988"></span></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Fiction_writing&action=edit&section=19" title="Edit section: External links"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1235681985">.mw-parser-output .side-box{margin:4px 0;box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid #aaa;font-size:88%;line-height:1.25em;background-color:var(--background-color-interactive-subtle,#f8f9fa);display:flow-root}.mw-parser-output .side-box-abovebelow,.mw-parser-output .side-box-text{padding:0.25em 0.9em}.mw-parser-output .side-box-image{padding:2px 0 2px 0.9em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .side-box-imageright{padding:2px 0.9em 2px 0;text-align:center}@media(min-width:500px){.mw-parser-output .side-box-flex{display:flex;align-items:center}.mw-parser-output .side-box-text{flex:1;min-width:0}}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .side-box{width:238px}.mw-parser-output .side-box-right{clear:right;float:right;margin-left:1em}.mw-parser-output .side-box-left{margin-right:1em}}</style><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1237033735">@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox{display:none!important}}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox img[src*="Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg"]{background-color:white}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox img[src*="Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg"]{background-color:white}}</style><div class="side-box side-box-right plainlinks sistersitebox"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1126788409">.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul{line-height:inherit;list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol li,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul li{margin-bottom:0}</style> <div class="side-box-flex"> <div class="side-box-image"><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg/40px-Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg.png" decoding="async" width="40" height="40" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg/60px-Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg/80px-Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="512" data-file-height="512" /></span></span></div> <div class="side-box-text plainlist">Look up <i><b><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/fiction" class="extiw" title="wiktionary:fiction">fiction</a></b></i> in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.</div></div> </div> <ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2010/feb/20/ten-rules-for-writing-fiction-part-one">"Ten rules for writing fiction"</a>, <i><a href="/wiki/The_Guardian" title="The Guardian">The Guardian</a></i></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20101013180947/http://www.ursulakleguin.com/SteeringCraft_57B.html">Ursula K. Le Guin: from <i>Steering the Craft</i></a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://nanowrimo.org/">Official Website for National Novel Writing Month</a></li></ul> <div class="navbox-styles"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist li{margin:0;display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ul{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist .mw-empty-li{display:none}.mw-parser-output .hlist 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id="Literary_composition" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Composition_(language)" title="Composition (language)">Literary composition</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">General topics</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Characterization" title="Characterization">Characterization</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Description" title="Description">Description</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Exposition_(narrative)" title="Exposition (narrative)">Exposition</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Fiction writing</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Literature" title="Literature">Literature</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Writer" title="Writer">Writer</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Writer%27s_block" title="Writer's block">Writer's block</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a 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