The Three Elements of Story

There are many different components that make up a story, and all of these can be divided into three basic categories; plot, setting, and character. I will talk about each of these at length in the future. Right now, my purpose is to define each element for you and begin to break them down to give you a clearer understanding of your story as it comes together.

Plot:

The first of the three elements of story is plot. Plot is the current which pulls your story forward, the star that guides it to its destination. Any plot you have or will ever come across has and will have the same basic structure:

The incident that calls your hero to some kind of action
The ‘quest’ which your hero sets out on to fulfil the goal of the story
The outcome, whether your hero wins or loses

Plot is important because it is what we as readers know as  the story. The ‘once upon a time’; the reason readers pick up a book. Of course, setting and character are major factors. Without good characters, the plot is bland, and without a structured setting, nothing makes sense. But plot is overall the backbone of a story and must be structured well, or the story will fall apart.

Setting: 

The second of the three elements is setting. Setting is the foundation on which a story is formed; the thread binding all things together. It is not just telling us that the sky is a marvellous shade of azure, although that is important as well.  There is so much more to setting than the immediate surroundings of your character during the story. In its full definition, setting of a story would include the following:

History of the world and peoples
Economies
Cultures
People groups and races
Politics
Legend and Lore
Climates
Geography
Mystical or alien cultures (if applicable) and their backgrounds
The immediate surroundings of your character during the story

I am probably forgetting some factors, but you get the idea. Setting is everything about the world that makes it unique. A unique, well structured setting makes a story world feel authentic and real, and keeps the readers captivated.

Characters:

The third of these elements is characters. This would be the element of the story that I feel is most appreciated and loved, as the characters are what give meaning to the plot and setting in the eyes of the reader.  They are the ones we care about and that stay with us long after the story is over. Here is a list of the type of characters usually involved in a story:

Protagonist
Antagonist
Main characters
Allies (or anti-villains)
Villains (or anti-heroes)
Love interest(s)
Side characters
Extras/unnamed characters
Animals

I would encourage extensive focus on all three areas, but if you had to focus on just one, my advice would be to focus on the characters. A bad plot and blurry setting can be made up for with good, well structured, engaging characters. However, if the characters are bland, the entire story will be disappointing for the reader.

Ideally, however, it is good to work on the three equally. A book with well developed plot, setting, and characters will be memorable, and may even make the bestsellers list.

 

Lets discuss this! Which of the three (plot, setting, and character) do you think are most important? Let me know in the comments!