Types of Fiction

This section describes types of fiction. Fiction refers to creative writing that is imagined, rather than based on real-life events. It is not constrained by factual accuracy, but instead allows the writer to invent worlds, characters, and situations. While fiction may draw inspiration from reality or emotional truths, it ultimately transports the reader to another world—one that exists only in the writer’s imagination.

In fiction, the language is often more descriptive and evocative. Writers may use detailed imagery and figurative language, such as metaphors and similes, to engage the reader’s senses and emotions, creating a rich and immersive experience.

Examples of fiction include

• Poetry – This can be lyrical or experimental, often employing rhyme, meter, and metaphor to evoke feelings. For instance, Do not go gentle into that good night by Dylan Thomas.
• Plays – Dramatic works, usually written for performance, such as Hamlet by William Shakespeare or The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde.
• Novels – Long-form narratives that explore complex plots and characters, such as Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen or Lord of the Flies by William Golding.
• Short Stories – Brief narratives that focus on a single incident or character, often with a twist. For example, The Lottery by Shirley Jackson.

As part of your studies, you may be asked to write shorter pieces of fiction, which could include:

• Describing a specific place, bringing it to life through sensory details.
• Creating a character by illustrating their appearance, personality, or motivations.
• Writing the beginning of a story, setting up the scene and introducing the conflict.

An Engaging Opening

The opening of a story is crucial—it needs to captivate the reader immediately. A good opening should raise questions, create intrigue, or establish an emotional connection with the reader, compelling them to read on.

Consider the opening of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins:

"When I wake up, the other side of the bed is cold. My fingers stretch out, seeking Prim's warmth but finding only the rough canvas cover of the mattress. She must have had bad dreams and climbed in with our mother. Of course, she did. This is the day of the reaping."

This is an effective opening because:

• It sparks curiosity – The mention of "Prim" and "the day of the reaping" immediately makes the reader wonder about the characters and the significance of the reaping. Who is Prim? Why is it important?
• It sets the tone – The "rough canvas cover" and the absence of the father suggest a difficult, impoverished lifestyle, which sets up a sense of hardship.
• It invites further questions – The fact that the mother is mentioned but the father is absent creates a sense of mystery—where is the father? What happened to him?

The writer reveals just enough to draw the reader in, but leaves enough unanswered to keep the reader eager to continue exploring the story.

Story Arc

Many fictional stories follow a predictable structure that helps to build suspense and interest. One common narrative pattern is the five-stage story arc, which outlines the basic flow of the plot. This structure is also used in films and television.

A typical story arc has the following five stages:

• Exposition – The beginning of the story, where the main characters, setting, and central conflict are introduced.
• Rising Action – The plot develops, with rising tension and obstacles that the characters must overcome.
• Climax – The peak of the story, where the conflict reaches its highest point and the most dramatic event occurs.
• Falling Action – The aftermath of the climax, where the consequences of the events unfold.
• Resolution – The final part, where the story concludes, the conflict is resolved, and loose ends are tied up.

Example: Cinderella

Let’s break down the familiar story of Cinderella using the five-stage arc:

• Exposition: Cinderella lives with her cruel stepmother and stepsisters, who make her do all the household chores. Her father is absent or uncaring.
• Rising Action: The prince announces a ball, and Cinderella’s stepmother prevents her from attending. However, with the help of her fairy godmother, Cinderella is transformed and goes to the ball.
• Climax: At the ball, Cinderella dances with the prince, but she must leave before midnight when the magic will wear off.
• Falling Action: The prince searches for the owner of the glass slipper that Cinderella left behind.
• Resolution: The prince finds Cinderella, they marry, and she finally escapes her life of servitude.

When reading a novel or watching a film, it’s helpful to look for these stages in the plot. How does the story begin? What challenges do the characters face? Where does the story reach its highest point? How does the conflict get resolved?

A Convincing Close

The conclusion of your story should feel satisfying and complete. It should address the main conflict or theme, leaving the reader with a sense of closure. A well-rounded ending ties up loose ends and ensures that all major plot points are resolved.

In longer novels, writers might use a cliffhanger to end chapters and build suspense, encouraging the reader to continue. However, in short stories, it’s often more effective to provide a conclusive ending that feels natural and fulfilling.

For example, the short story The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry ends with a poignant twist that brings together the story's themes of love and sacrifice. Although both characters make sacrifices that seem to negate each other’s efforts, the ending conveys the message that their love for each other is the greatest gift of all.

In contrast, if a story ends abruptly or leaves important questions unanswered, it can feel unsatisfying. Even in cases where the ending is open-ended or ambiguous, the reader should still feel like the story has come to a logical and emotional conclusion.

Examples of Fictional Openings

Here are a few additional examples of captivating fictional openings:

• From The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger:

"If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don’t feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth in the first place..."

This opening immediately draws the reader in by adopting an informal, conversational tone and making the reader curious about the narrator’s backstory.

• From Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens:

"Among other public buildings in a town, which has its name in the title of this book, there is one anciently common to most towns, great or small: to wit, a workhouse; and in this workhouse was born; on a day and date which I need not trouble myself to repeat, inasmuch as it can be of no possible consequence to the reader, in this stage of the business at all events; the item of mortality whose name is prefixed to the head of this chapter."

This opening not only sets the tone for the story but also gives a sense of the bleakness of the setting while introducing a character whose life is about to unfold under harsh conditions.

By considering these examples, you can better understand how an effective opening sets up intrigue and atmosphere, preparing the reader for the journey ahead.