During the course, you will learn about topics such as - THE ELEMENTS OF FICTION WRITING

Before you begin to write, you need to be aware of what constitutes a piece of fiction writing. Once you have an idea of these principles you can write a broad synopsis and the undertake any necessary research and planning. This of course is a somewhat simplistic view of the process, but students on the course will benefit from modules which approach each of the subjects in an ordered and logical manner; each lesson building upon what has previously been studied. Our lessons also include illustrative examples to help you to better understand the concepts that you are studying.

Fiction is writing that includes imaginary characters, events and/or settings created by the writer. All of the components of a fictitious story do not necessarily need to be fictitious though:

Imaginary characters might be set in a real world setting such as a well-known city or a particular country.
Characters might be fictitious, but set in a “real” event.
Real characters may be used for a fictitious story that embraces an imaginary event or setting, or something more realistic, like a summer’s holiday at a fictitious beach resort, taken by a some famous historical figure.

Two Types of Fiction
There are traditionally 2 types of fiction:

1) Category
Also referred to as ‘genre’, these stories have a distinct theme and as such are easy to categorise. Examples of category or genre fiction are science fiction, westerns, adventure, crime, historical, romance, horror, erotica, mystery, suspense, fantasy and war stories.

When selecting a genre or category of fiction to focus on, it is best to choose one that suits your interests, knowledge and experience. Otherwise, be prepared to do a lot of research so you can credibly write about your chosen subjects.

2) Mainstream
These stories are aimed at the widest possible audience. They typically deal with most aspects of modern life including relationships, careers, and the search for success and fulfilment. Popular mainstream writers include Jeffrey Archer, Jackie Collins, Colleen McCullough and James Michener.

Characteristics of Category Fiction
There are 5 characteristics which are usually common to category fiction stories:

1. A strong plot
Frequently the age-old standard plot is used, where a hero is confronted with a very serious problem. He pursues a solution but faces more and more problems. Then, finally, faced with a desperate situation, the solution emerges to result in a happy ending. The underpinning driver of plot is conflict. Conflict is situation or person that undermines the perfect ideal of how things “should” be. This could mean a literal conflict between two characters, or some other form of cataclysm that interrupts the harmony of your protagonist’s existence. Conflict is an essential ingredient to good storytelling. It provides the momentum for the plot, the reason for your characters to exist and interact, and it sets up the eventual denouement or resolution to your story. In fact, without conflict, you don’t have a story.

2. A hero or heroine
The hero is the main character of the story, also known as the protagonist. He/she usually has strong personal qualities and engages the sympathies of the reader. It is important that your readership is able to identify with or admire your hero in some way. If the audience doesn’t like or engage with your hero, they will quickly lose motivation to read the rest of your story. In some cases you may choose to create a protagonist who is an anti-hero – that is, someone who does not fit the traditional heroic mould but who has other redeeming qualities.  An anti-hero should be used only if his/her character is shown as being strong and true to their own set of values (which may differ to the values of the reader).

3. Obvious motivation
The purpose to which the hero or heroine aspires must be clear and easily grasped by the reader, whether it be to achieve love, fame, fortune, conquer evil, survive a series of trials or something else equally positive and easy to grasp. If the hero’s motivation is unclear, your story will appear to lack direction, and the reader will become frustrated. The experience for the reader would be rather like watching an unfamiliar sport and not knowing the rules – the players would appear to be running around with no purpose and achieving nothing. If your hero has no clearly defined goal, his/her actions will appear pointless, rendering your story pointless, and the reader will lose interest.

4. Plenty of action
To keep your audience interested, your story should include plenty of action. Look to develop situations which will lead to problems which must then be solved, and perhaps while solving a problem, further problems will develop. The story should include frequent confrontations between characters and their environment. You may also introduce changes in scenery (the characters move from place to place), to generate interest and opportunities for further problems. If you choose to set your entire story in a single location, you will need to work harder to create interest and opportunities for conflict and it is likely that your protagonist will have a more passive role in the story. 

5. A colourful background or setting
Exotic or out-of-the-ordinary locations are frequently used to enhance the category story. Depending on the category and plot, the story might take place on another planet, a cavern beneath the earth, another period in time, or even among people leading a lifestyle in our society which is quite different to the norm.