TERMINOLOGY FOR NEW NOVELISTS

LANGUAGE EVERY NEW NOVELIST SHOULD KNOW

Know the langugage of your field as a novelist

A tremendous amount of jargon permeates the world of writing, and it is prudent to grasp some of the basic terminology. In doing so, not only will you be able to identify the strengths and weaknesses of your work, but also you will become more adept at talking intelligently about the craft with other writers, editors, agents, and publishers.

Below, in alphabetical order, are 18 terms every new novelist should understand.

GLOSSARY

Antagonist: A character (or situation) that opposes the main character of the story and is typically considered the “bad guy.”

Backstory:             The history or background of a character.

Character Arc:       The transformation the protagonist (main character) undergoes throughout the story, which typically results in significant character growth.

Climax:                    The finale or highlight of the story, often involving confrontation between the protagonist and the antagonist.

Denouncement:      The wrap up of the story following the climax.

Genre:                      The category of fiction written (romance, mystery, sci-fi, action, etc.).

Hook:                        The method for capturing the reader’s interest in the opening chapter (action, dialogue, universal question, conflict).

Inciting Incident:      The event or action that initially pulls the protagonist away from ordinary life and into the plot. This typically occurs within the first few chapters of the story.

Narrative:                 The overall structure or order of events in a story.

Outline:                    A preliminary blueprint of the story used by plotters to pre-determine theme, setting, characters, plot, chapters, etc.

Plot:                          The sequence of connected events through which the story is conveyed, showing cause and effect.

Point of View:          The perspective from which the story is told; the angle from which the reader experiences the story.

Protagonist:            Typically, the main character of the novel.

Scene:                    A sequence of events within a chapter revolving around a specific point or action. Usually, scenes change with a shift in setting, time, action, or point of view.

Setting:                    Where and when a story takes place, real or imagined.

Story Arc:                 The framework or backbone guiding the flow of events.

Subplot:                    A lesser plot within the main plot of a novel. There may be one or more subplots per novel.

Theme:                     The underlying principle, moral, or message of a story.

CONCLUSION:

Once you have nailed down your terminology you may be able to use it as a preliminary outline for your novel. Keep a separate sheet aside in your computer for preliminary notes as you work toward developing a viable story theme, plot, and character outlines for your novel. For more info check out 20 Tips To Self-Editing.