7 Elements of a Story

There are millions of books in the world, and writers are still coming up with new and compelling stories. Though each story is uniquely its own, they are all made of the same elements. These elements are the backbone of a story and are critical to a story’s development. We’ve gathered information about the seven elements of a story to help you begin mapping out your project. 

1. Characters

Characters are the heart of a story, and without them a story can’t exist. Readers want to see a part of themselves reflected in the character, so make your characters relatable and believable. Give your characters strengths, weaknesses, personalities, emotions, and flaws. It doesn’t matter if your characters are humans, animals, or robots, your readers need to connect with them. Your characters should also grow or change by the end of the story, which is known as their character arc. 

2. Plot

Without a plot, you would have awesome characters that didn’t do anything. Your story’s plot is the sequence of events that your characters experience. The scenes are pieced together to tell one cohesive story. Plots should have a clear beginning, middle, and end. It is also likely that your story will feature subplots that are layered into the main plot line. Stories follow a structure that includes the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.  

3. Setting

When creating your story, you need to decide where it will take place. Is it located in a real place or somewhere fictional? Does the story unfold in a small town or a big city? These are questions that you will need to answer. You also need to know when the story takes place. Your story can feature the past, present, future, or even a combination of these depending on your plot. The setting will set the stage for where the characters play, so make sure you fully develop it. This information should be layered into the story rather than info dumping all at once. 

4. Point of View

After deciding what the story is, you get to decide how the story is told and who will narrate it. The point of view decides what perspective is being given to the reader. There are three main options to choose from: 

• First Person: This point of view puts the reader directly in the mind of the protagonist. I and me statements are used to tell the story. Example: I walked down the deserted road. 

• Second Person: This point of view features you and your statements. It’s not as common as the other two POVs, but it is frequently seen in blog posts like this one. Example: You want your characters to be relatable. 

• Third Person: Third person point of view is commonly seen in novels. The narrator uses he or she or they statements to describe what is happening. Narration may reveal the inner workings of a character’s mind, but it can also be limited to the actions of characters. Example: Jagger walked into the kitchen. He was determined to eat a cookie. 

5. Conflict

Conflict is crucial to any story, and something that everyone deals with in their life. You have to decide what problems or obstacles your characters will face. Your story’s conflict may be between two characters. Think good guy vs bad guy. There can also be internal conflict or external forces affecting your characters. Conflict adds depth and drama to the story. It keeps the story progressing and entices the reader to keep turning the pages. 

6. Resolution

All stories must come to an end. The resolution of the book is how the story ends and how the conflict is resolved. It’s important that you have an idea of how your story will end before you begin writing. The ending will affect the actions of your characters and the journey they take. Though things may change as you go, knowing the resolution will give you a clear destination. This will be incredibly helpful when mapping out your story. 

7. Theme

A theme is the message that you are conveying in your writing. Themes are important in storytelling, yet they aren’t directly stated. They reveal themselves throughout the story. All of the choices you make, like your characters, plot, and conflict, will help readers discover the theme. Why? is the central question surrounding the element of theme. Common themes include good vs evil, justice, love, hope, and friendship. 

These seven elements are natural parts of storytelling. We may not actively think about them when reading or writing, but a compelling story couldn’t exist without them. Whether you’re a plotter or a pantser, having an idea of your story’s elements before you start writing will make the writing process easier.