The Elements of Storytelling

 

Writing is a form of storytelling. Storytelling is when you, well, tell a story in one medium or another. Storytelling can be a play, or an epic poem, or even an audio book. So what are the 4 key parts of a story?

Plot

The plot is the series of events that happen in the story. Plot is a major reason that readers read. They want to see interesting twists and consequences. The plot is what draws people in most of the time. Without the plot all you have is a cast ready for action, but lacking a script. Not much fun.

Characters

Characters are the people in the story. Some plots are more or less character-driven. Contemporary stories, like romances, are much more likely to be driven by characters. Characters are another reason that people like stories. They want to relate and even look up to characters and become emotionally attached. (Getting your readers attached to said characters also makes torturing them all the more enjoyable as well.)

World

The world, also known as the setting, is the place or places where the story happens. The setting determines many aspects of the plot and characters. The world shows what is possible, and why it is possible. Worldbuilding is the process of making the rules that govern the reality in which the characters live, so it is a very important aspect of story telling.

Voice

This is different. The voice is the style in which the story is told. Every writer has a different way of writing, and this is their voice. A voice may need to change to some degree depending on the story itself.

It is the combination and application of these elements that makes a good story. The plot, characters, and world can be built, piece by piece, through your imgaination, and, for some people, notes. Your voice, however, can only be discovered through writing and writing and writing.