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How to Write Dialogue in a Story

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Dialogue writing is essential to the art of storytelling. In real life, we learn about other people through the ideas they communicate and the words they use to share those ideas; in story writing, it’s much the same. Knowing how to write dialogue in a story will transform your characters, your prose style, and your […]

What is the Plot of a Story?

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The plot of a story defines the sequence of events that draws the reader from beginning to end. Storytellers have experimented with how to structure the plot of a story since the dawn of literature. No matter what genre you write, understanding the possibilities of plot structure, as well as the different types of plot, […]

Onomatopoeia Definition and Examples

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What is onomatopoeia? To describe it in a zip, an onomatopoeia is a word that smacks the reader’s ears and makes them pop. Onomatopoeia words describe sounds by copying the sound itself. Crash! Bang! Whiz! An onomatopoeia doesn’t just describe sounds, it emulates the sound entirely. With this literary device, you can hear the meow […]

Static Characters vs. Dynamic Characters: Definitions and Examples

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You can categorize the people that populate your stories as static and dynamic characters. These categories correspond to character development: if they’re a changed person by the end of the story, they’re a dynamic character; if they haven’t changed at all, they’re a static character. There are many other ways to categorize characters—flat and round, […]

What is a Narrative Poem? Definition and Examples

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Writers who want to set their stories in verse may be interested in the narrative poem. One of the oldest literary art forms in the history of written language, narrative poetry puts plot to poesy, combining the art of storytelling with the techniques of poetry writing. So, what is a narrative poem? To answer that […]

Imagery Definition: 5+ Types of Imagery in Literature

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What is imagery? Take a moment to conceptualize something in your mind: an object, a sound, a scent. Transcribe whatever you think about into language, transmitting to the reader the precise experience you had in your brain. This is imagery in literature​​—a powerful literary device that communicates our everyday sensory experiences. Literature abounds with imagery […]

Character Development Definition: A Look at 40 Character Traits

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For any work of fiction to resemble real life, it has to portray real character development with a convincing character arc. Additionally, those characters need to have believable character traits, which evolve as the character grows. Stories are about people—even if your main character is a cat, a tree, or some other nonhuman entity. Great […]

What is an Antagonist? Definition & Examples

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Because most stories involve conflict, most stories also involve an antagonist. Your protagonist—the main character—will struggle to achieve something important to them, and the antagonist will further complicate this struggle. Knowing who is the antagonist of your story, as well as what motivates them, will greatly improve your fiction, nonfiction, and storytelling. Even if your […]

Repetition Definition: Types of Repetition in Poetry and Prose

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What is repetition? At its simplest, repetition is a word or phrase used multiple times in a text, for the purpose of emphasizing an emotion or idea. It might seem counterintuitive to repeat, repeat, repeat, but when wielded correctly, the repetition of words and phrases has powerful effects in literature. You’re most likely to find […]

Capturing the Art of Storytelling: Techniques & Tips

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It is hard to measure the art of storytelling, but you know it when you see it. You read a passage of prose and it raises your arm hairs, makes your blood tingle, gets your heart racing; suddenly you’re swept up in the experience of beautiful writing. Indeed, writers seem to possess a certain magic […]
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