Home
>
Writing
>
Important Points of Fiction

Important Points of Fiction

Fiction manuscripts receive feedback that addresses and scores:

? The theme of the book

? Character development and depth

? Plot and story line resolution

? Pace and setting of the story

? The effective use of dialog

? The appropriateness of the tense and point of view

? How compelling the book will be in the marketplace

? Spelling, grammar, punctuation and much more!

The theme or premise of a novel is important because it sets the stage for the characters, the setting, the plot, the conflict, and the climax. Is it a story of love, jealousy, ambition, adventure, of triumph or failure? These themes, as well as many others must be considered and decided upon by the fiction writer.

Coming from the design of the tale are the characters and their development. Protagonists and antagonists live because they produce the conflict that gives tension and stress, for without these elements no story exists. Important is a fully rounded character with vices as well as virtues. Protagonists must have qualities that we relate to, but antagonists must also have traits that are decent yet not exceeding their failings.

The conflict between the hero and villain product the storyline or plot-the events that bring to two into discord. This dissension can be physical, mental, social, desire, goal, aspiration, or any feature that they view differently. Some stories are plot driven while others are character driven although all stories have some of each.

Setting is determined by the characters, which may be past, present, or future. Historical novels are situated in the past of a specific locale; contemporary novels deal with the present in time and location; futuristic novels-science fiction and fantasy-deal with the future or locales out of this world.

Now we come to dialogue that must suit the character as well as the setting if it is to be realistic and relate to tie and place. If of the past, it must copy the style, the syntax, and the idiom of the time. Dialogue must always further the story, develop the character, or suit the locale; never can it be to fill in space.

The write must also choose carefully the tense and point of view. Some stories are better told from the present tense while others from the past tense. Using the pluperfect past tense sacrifices immediacy and slows down the rhythm of the language. Another important consideration is the point of view: Sometimes the first person singular is the most appropriate while at other times the third person omniscient is proper. Chose prudently because it can make or break the story.

Another consideration, although a lesser one, is how compelling the piece will be in the marketplace. Since publishers are always concerned about the bottom line, they look to see how the buyers who are the readers will receive it. Perhaps from a publishing point of view, this is the most important criterion for the acceptance or rejection of a manuscript.

To make a manuscript acceptable it must follow the rules of good grammar, be free of spelling and typo errors, written in the language that is acceptable to the target audience. The fiction writer had much to consider with every work undertaken, yet believe in the importance and worth of his or her endeavors.

Charles O. Goulet has a BA in history and a BEd in English literature. He has several historical novels published and that my be obtained at Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Barnes and Noble, and many other bookstores.

Charles O. Goulet
RR 1
Evansburg, AB
T0E 0T0
go1c@telusplanet.net

recurring maid service Buffalo Grove ..

In The News:

The iconic Mary Kay pink Cadillac goes electric with the Cadillac Optiq, available only to the company's top 1% of sales force performers.

Cybercriminals abuse trusted Intel driver to gain kernel access and shut down Windows Defender, enabling undetected malware deployment since July 2025.

Using email aliases for online shopping and subscriptions can protect your privacy by preventing companies from linking your activity across websites.

New research shows AI overlap does not equal job replacement, with knowledge-based roles seeing most integration while physical jobs remain least affected.

Scammers target seniors who avoid social media by exploiting public records like obituaries and real estate filings to steal personal information and money

Recovery team in Italy use AI-enabled drones to detect missing hiker's red helmet, leading to successful recovery after months of ground searches

Google Salesforce system breach exposes business data while scammers use incident to target users with fake security calls and phishing attempts.

Google announces Pixel 10 lineup with Tensor G5 chip and Gemini Nano AI, introducing Magic Cue, Pro Res Zoom up to 100x and satellite emergency support features.

C San Diego study reveals 86% of school safety companies monitor students 24/7 on personal devices, raising privacy concerns.

Users can now add their favorite outlets' coverage to the Top Stories section of Google search results by utilizing the 'preferred sources' feature. With just a few clicks, you can add Fox News.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Interstellar object 3I/ATLAS shows an unexpected frontal glow that Harvard's Avi Loeb says cannot be explained by sunlight reflection or standard cometary outgassing.

Receiving order confirmations for purchases you never made could mean your email address is being exploited in fraud operations targeting multiple retailers.

First wireless brain implant works with Apple's official protocol, enabling hands-free control of iPhones, iPads and Vision Pro through thought alone.

Data brokers sell personal details that scammers use to target retirement funds through fake financial advisor calls and convincing phishing attempts

Ten innovative tech solutions from gait sensors to smart pill dispensers help adults 65+ track fall risks and prevent injuries before they happen.

Meta AI internal documents revealed chatbots were allowed to flirt with children and engage in romantic conversations until the company was exposed by Reuters.

ChatGPT will avoid giving direct mental health advice under new OpenAI rules following instances where the AI model provided harmful or misleading responses.

Your phone tracks you in more ways than that little GPS icon suggests. Here’s how to find and clear hidden location logs on iPhone and Android.

Authorities in France and the Netherlands have been notified. Meanwhile, impacted customers are being told to stay alert.

Apple just rolled out a redesigned Blood Oxygen feature to specific models, following a recent victory in a legal dispute.

Kidney dialysis provider DaVita experienced a ransomware breach by the Interlock gang affecting 916,000 people in the second-largest U.S. healthcare attack of 2025.

A Chinese-made Unitree R1 robot walked Manhattan streets and shopped for shoes as part of KraneShares' $28 million AI robotics fund promotion campaign.

The ShinyHunters cybercriminal group breached Google's Salesforce system through vishing attacks, stealing business contact details and customer data.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Important Points of Fiction

Writing