The Five Elements Of Fiction (Page 3 of 4) in pdf

5. Why can’t he have it?

Does the protagonist lack strength, mental acumen or some other necessary ability?

Does he lack self-confidence, good health, or social connections?

Is the conflict a man v. man struggle? What kind of struggle is it?

SETTING:

6. Where does this story happen?

a. Does the story happen in the country or the city?

b. What is the mood or atmosphere of the place where the story happens? Is it

cheerful and sunny, or dark and bleak? What words or phrases or descriptions does

the author use to create this atmosphere?

c. Among what kinds of people is the story set? What is their economic class? How do

they live? Are they hopeful? Downtrodden? Depressed? Why?

7. When does this story happen?

a. How long a period of time does the story cover? A few minutes? A single day? A

whole lifetime?

b. In what time of life for the main characters do the events occur? Are they children?

Are they just passing into adulthood? Are they already grownups? Does setting the

story in this particular time of the characters’ lives make the story better?

CHARACTERS:

8. Who is the story about?

a. How old is the protagonist?

b. Is the protagonist male or female?

c. Is the character kind, gentle, stern, emotional, harsh, logical, rational, compassionate

or exacting…? Make up a list of adjectives that describe the protagonist. What

words or actions on the protagonist’s part make you choose the adjectives you do?

d. Of what nationality is the protagonist? Does he live in his native land, or somewhere

else?

e. What does the character say about himself to other people?

f. What do other characters think or say about him?

g. Do the protagonist’s priorities change over the course of the story? In what way?

What causes this change? Is it a change for the better, or for the worse?

h. Is the protagonist a type or archetype? Is he an “Everyman” with whom the reader

is meant to identify? Are his struggles symbolic of human life generally in some way?

The Five Elements Of Fiction Page 3