The world of novel writing is filled with confusing terminology. To help you better sound cultured at your next family gathering, we present the Nearly Complete glossary of every writing term you were too embarrassed to ask.
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- charactersThe people, creatures and pet rocks that inhabit your storyworld.
- dialogueWhen two or more of your characters have a conversation.
- genreNovels grouped by shared conventions. One novel can have overlapping genres, or even invent a new one.
- manuscriptEverything you've written for your novel, and probably your final Horcrux. Defend it with your life - or at least back it up sometimes.
- plotAll the things that happen in your novel, in whatever order you decide.
- world buildingThe geography, history and cultures of the world your story is set in, real or otherwise. Badly-drawn maps optional.
- writing habitsAnything in regards to where, when or how you write - and how much coffee you chuck in the process.
Essentials
- brainstormingAny exercise designed to come up with a bunch of different ideas - good ones and bad ones.
- inspirationSomething you can find anywhere, but mostly in fortune cookies.
- motivationThe magical force that keeps you from watching Netflix all day.
- NaNoWriMoThe National Novel Writing Month; a yearly event in which novelists set out to write 50,000 words in one month's time.
- outliningMaking a broad-strokes overview of the events in your novel. Some swear by it; some swear at it.
- perfectionismSomething that's only ever good in job interviews.
- WIPWork-in-progress. Any novel you're currently pouring your heart, soul and sanity into.
- writer's blockWhen your inspiration disappears into thin air. Often involves tumbleweeds and a monkey playing cymbals.
- writer's lifeNot nearly as rock'n'roll as on Californication.
Writing process
- chaptersParts of your novel grouped together through a common topic, related events or a shared point-of-view character.
- character-drivenStories that focus primarily on character development, internal conflict and personal growth. Still have a plot.
- cliffhangersAny unresolved issues at the end of a scene, chapter or novel that make the reader want to keep reading.
- denouementThe ending of your story, after the climax, where loose ends are tied up and last matters resolved.
- epilogueOptional chapter after the main story, often with some time in between. May contain the denouement, or even set up a sequel.
- flashbacksWhen you jump back to any scenes that happened before the main story.
- hooksThe first line, paragraph or page of your novel, intended to drag your reader in. Ridiculously intriguing, hopefully.
- inciting incidentWhen something happens that sets off the main events in your story. Say, finding out yer' a wizard.
- plot-drivenStories that focus primarily on events, external conflict and action. Still have characters.
- prologueChapter before the main story, sometimes from an uncommon POV. Tends to establish the story or give background information.
- subplotsSmaller storylines that support the main plot, often involving supporting characters.
- themeSome sort of moral message that the rest of your story revolves around.
Story structure
- archetypesCommon themes, settings or characters that are too universal to get stale. Think good versus evil; a remote village or a mentor.
- clichésAnything that's been done so often that your readers can smell it from a mile away.
- climaxThe part of your story that the rest of your novel has been working towards.
- conflictWhen something prevents your character from achieving what they want to achieve.
- foreshadowingGiving a subtle clue about something that happens later in the story, so as to build anticipation and tension.
- plot holesInconsistencies in a storyline that go against the logic of the rest of the plot.
- plot twistsThe delicate art of pulling the rug out from under your reader.
- proseAny writing that's not poetry. Can also refer to your choice of words.
- suspension of disbeliefYour reader's willingness and ability to believe something they know to be made-up - like your novel.
- tropesRecurring motives in works of fiction. Tools, not flaws.
Plot
- antagonistsAnyone who stands in the way of the protagonist getting what they want. Often bad or immoral, but not necessarily.
- antiheroesKnights in not-so-shining armor. Flawed heroes, often doing the right thing for the wrong reasons.
- character developmentThe way your characters' values, goals and behaviour change over time. Makes them way more interesting.
- flat charactersSuperficial characters that show no depth, growth or unpredictability. The opposite of round characters.
- omniscient narratorsWhen the narrator knows everything about everyone. Usually not an actual character in the story.
- POV charactersPoint-of-view characters. Characters through whose eyes the reader witnesses the story.
- protagonistsThe main character or characters of your story - the ones your reader is supposed to empathize with.
- round charactersComplex characters that intrigue and surprise the reader, and show significant character development. The opposite of flat characters.
- sidekicksA character who primarily accompanies another character, and generally walks in their shadow. What Donkey is to Shrek.
- supporting charactersCharacters that the story doesn't revolve around, but who still play a fairly notable role in the overall plot.
- token charactersFlat characters whose main purpose is to add diversity to the cast, often in terms of gender, ethnicity or sexuality.
- unreliable narratorsNarrators that give the reader untrue information, such as due to clouded judgement, delusions, bad memory or even straight-up lies.
Characters
- active voiceOpposite of passive voice. When whoever is performing the action becomes the subject of the sentence, such as in "the man air-guitared in the shower."
- dialogue tagsAnything used to indicate who's speaking in a piece of dialogue. She said. He whispered.
- narrationYour story as it's being told to the reader.
- Oxford commaThe last comma in a phrase like "novels, tea, and a fireplace." Subject of heated debate and plenty of fist fights.
- pacingThe speed at which your story moves. Slow when things are important, faster when they're not.
- passive voiceOpposite of active voice, and often a flaw. When whatever is being acted upon becomes the subject of the sentence, such as in "the shower was air-guitared in by the man."
- purple proseProse that is so unnecessarily descriptive that it distracts from the story. Also known as flowery prose.
- rookie mistakesAnything signalling to the world that you don't know what you're doing.
- subtextAn underlying meaning that the reader can pick up on, but that's not explicitly stated. Keeps your audience on the edge of their seats.
- verb tenseWhether your story is described in the past, the present or - god forbid - the future.
Writing style
- backstoryAnything that happened before the start of your novel.
- conlangConstructed language. A language that has been deliberately created rather than naturally evolved, such as for a creative work. Think Elvish, Klingon or Dothraki.
- expositionSharing background information with your readers. Should be done right, or not at all. See also: info dumps.
- researchGoing out to find little nuggets of information that make your story all the more vivid.
- settingThe place in which your story is set, both in space and time.
World building
- beta readingHaving someone other than yourself read your manuscript, allowing you to see your story through a fresh set of eyes.
- kill your darlingsConventional wisdom stating that the thing you're most fond of is usually the worst - and should therefore be axed.
- line editHaving someone check your novel for writing style, grammar, spelling, structure and punctuation.
- proofreadingReading through your manuscript as if it were finished; spotting final typos and getting a general sense of the story.
- structural editHaving someone check your novel for strengths, weaknesses, plot holes and general flow. Also called developmental edit.
Editing
- Bechdel testTest of female representation in fiction, requiring that it contains (1) two female characters who (2) talk to each other about (3) something else than a man. Failed a lot more than you'd think.
- Chekhov's gunThe principle that every element in a story must be necessary information. Essentially, don't describe a gun over the mantle unless it ends up being fired.
- Dead Parent TestTest for writing realistic dialogue, requiring that a major piece of exposition - like dead parents - get hinted at, rather than literally mentioned.
- deus ex machinaWhen a dire situation is resolved by the last-minute introduction of something powerful. Can leave the reader feeling cheated.
- in medias resLiterally, 'in the middle of things'. Common advice asserting you should start your novel in the midst of an action rather than with exposition.
- MacGuffinAnything the characters really want, but the audience isn't so emotionally invested in. Think Holy Grails, Golden Fleeces or plans to the Death Star.
- plot deviceSomething that's primarily introduced to move the plot forward. Can come across as forced and unnatural when done wrong.
- red herringsSomething that serves to mislead or distract your reader, such as to conceal an imminent plot twist.
- Sexy Lamp TestVariant of the Bechdel test, stating that if you can replace a female character with a sexy lamp and the story still pretty much works, you're doing something wrong.
- show don't tellConventional wisdom that rather than telling the reader what they need to know, you show them evidence and let them connect the dots.
Techniques and devices
- dark and grittyTrying to make something more mature by throwing sex, gore and lots of awkward cursing at it. Rarely works.
- evil overlordA villainous antagonist whose only goal is to destroy the world, for no apparent reason. Worn-out and endlessly boring.
- head hoppingHaphazardly changing from one point-of-view to another, leaving the reader utterly confused.
- info dumpsForcing one massive chunk of backstory down your reader's throat, rather than gently sprinkling it throughout your story.
- love trianglesA romantic relationship involving three people. Not wrong when done right, but not nearly as original as you think.
- Mary SueA character so perfect we want to throw up a little.
- preachingWhen you slap your reader in the face with whatever message you're trying to get across.
- self-insertionWhen your character is basically a way cooler version of you. Often leads to really dull Mary Sues.
- the Chosen OneA character being of critical importance to the world through no merit of their own. Often a sign of lazy writing.
Clichés and flaws
- .epubFile format for e-books that allows the reader to change the layout to their liking. Most universally supported of all the formats.
- .mobiFile format similar to the EPUB, but specifically for Amazon's Kindle line of e-readers.
- .pdfFile format for documents and ebooks. Allows the author more control over the layout, but offers less flexibility to the reader.
- back matterThe pages in your novel that succeed the story. May contain an appendix, acknowledgements, or even ads for a sequel book.
- blurbsThe text on the back of a print novel, designed to entice potential readers.
- bylinesYour name printed on the book cover. Comes with complementary warm and fuzzy feelings.
- epigraphA quote that may or may not be relevant to the story, or inspired the author to write the story.
- front matterThe pages in your novel that precede the actual story. Publishing information, dedications, epigraphs and the like.
- taglinesA short, catchy line displayed on your book cover. High risk of being cheesy.
Book design
- ghost writersWhen one person is paid to write a book for someone else, and they pinky-swear not to tell people.
- ISBNInternational Standard Book Number; the code used to identify your novel.
- literary agentsSomeone who handles the commercial aspects on your behalf, dealing with publishers and such. For a cut of the profits, of course.
- PODPrint-on-demand. A form of self-publishing that will only print your novel once someone places an order.
- pseudonymsThe name an author uses when, by choice or necessity, they don't use their own.
- query lettersA letter sent to a publisher to entice them into reading your manuscript.
- royaltiesUnder the traditional publishing model, the share of money you receive per sale of your novel.
- self-publishingPublishing without the help of an established publisher. Great when done right; terrible when not.
- synopsisA summarized description of the contents of your novel, from beginning to end. Often required by literary agents.
- the Big FiveThe five traditionally dominant publishers in the United States: Hachette, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster.
- vanity publishersA publisher taking advantage of authors who really really want to be published. Known for terrible service, lots of upfront payments and other shady practices. Steer clear.