Lesson 1: Building Blocks of Fiction
Learn the fundamental elements every fiction story needs: character, setting, plot, conflict, and point of view.
📖 Building Blocks of Fiction: Your First Steps into Storytelling
Welcome to Fiction Writing! ✍️
Welcome to the magical world of fiction writing! Whether you dream of writing novels, short stories, or just want to express your creativity, you're in the right place. Fiction writing is the art of creating stories that come from your imagination—stories about people who never existed, places you've invented, and events that never happened (but feel like they could have).
🤔 Did you know? The word "fiction" comes from the Latin word fictio, meaning "the action of shaping or molding." When you write fiction, you're literally shaping a world from nothing!
In this lesson, we'll explore the five essential building blocks that every story needs. Think of these like the ingredients in a recipe—you need all of them to bake a delicious story cake! 🎂
🏗️ The Five Essential Building Blocks
Every work of fiction, from a simple fairy tale to a complex novel, is built on five fundamental elements:
YOUR STORY
📖
┌─────┴─────┐
│ │
CHARACTER SETTING
│ │
└─────┬─────┘
│
PLOT
│
┌─────┴─────┐
│ │
CONFLICT POINT OF VIEW
Let's explore each building block in detail.
👤 Building Block #1: CHARACTER
Characters are the people (or animals, aliens, robots—whatever you imagine!) who live in your story. They're the ones who make things happen and to whom things happen.
What Makes a Good Character?
A good character feels real to your reader, even if they're completely made up. They have:
- Wants and needs: What does your character desire? What are they trying to achieve?
- Personality traits: Are they brave or fearful? Kind or cruel? Funny or serious?
- Strengths and weaknesses: Nobody's perfect! Flaws make characters relatable.
- A background: Where did they come from? What experiences shaped them?
💡 Tip: Your protagonist is your main character—the hero of your story. Your antagonist is the character who opposes them (not always a villain, just someone with opposing goals).
🧠 Memory Trick: Think of PROtagonist as the character you're rooting FOR (pro = for). Think of ANTagonist like an annoying ANT at your picnic—they're working against your plans!
Character Types
┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ FLAT vs. ROUND CHARACTERS │
├─────────────────┬───────────────────────┤
│ FLAT │ ROUND │
├─────────────────┼───────────────────────┤
│ Simple │ Complex │
│ One or two │ Many traits │
│ traits │ │
│ Don't change │ Can change & grow │
│ Predictable │ Surprising at times │
│ │ │
│ Example: │ Example: │
│ The friendly │ A shy girl who learns │
│ shopkeeper who │ to be brave and │
│ always smiles │ stands up to bullies │
└─────────────────┴───────────────────────┘
🔧 Try this: Think of someone you know well. Write down five things about them: what they want, what they fear, what makes them laugh, what makes them angry, and one secret they might hide. Congratulations—you've just created a character profile!
🌍 Building Block #2: SETTING
Setting is WHERE and WHEN your story takes place. It's the world your characters live in.
Setting includes:
- Place: A small town, a spaceship, an enchanted forest, your school
- Time: Present day, the 1800s, the year 3000, last Tuesday
- Atmosphere: The mood or feeling of the place (cozy, creepy, exciting, peaceful)
Why Setting Matters
Setting isn't just a background—it affects everything in your story!
Same character, different settings:
🏰 Medieval Castle 🚀 Space Station
↓ ↓
Knight fights with sword Soldier fights with lasers
Travels on horseback Travels in hovercrafts
Worries about dragons Worries about aliens
💡 Tip: Use sensory details to bring your setting to life. What can your character see, hear, smell, taste, and touch? Don't just say "It was a beach"—say "The salty air stung my nose while waves crashed against the rocks, and rough sand scraped between my toes."
🌍 Real-world connection: Think about how you act differently in different places. You whisper in a library but shout at a sports game. You dress warmly in winter and lightly in summer. Your characters should respond to their setting the same way!
📊 Building Block #3: PLOT
Plot is WHAT HAPPENS in your story—the sequence of events from beginning to end. It's the journey your character takes.
The Classic Story Arc
Most stories follow a similar pattern, called the story arc or plot structure:
⭐ CLIMAX
/ \
/ \
RISING / \ FALLING
ACTION / \ ACTION
/ \
/ \
BEGINNING \
(Exposition) ENDING
• (Resolution)
Let's break this down:
Exposition (Beginning): Introduce your character, setting, and normal life. "Once upon a time..."
Rising Action: Problems start! Events build tension and lead toward the big moment. "And then things got complicated..."
Climax: The most exciting, intense moment! The biggest challenge or decision. "This was the moment everything changed..."
Falling Action: The aftermath of the climax. Consequences unfold. "After that..."
Resolution (Ending): Loose ends are tied up. The new normal is established. "And they lived happily ever after..."
Plot vs. Story: What's the Difference?
Story is WHAT happens: "The king died, and then the queen died."
Plot is WHY it happens: "The king died, and then the queen died of grief."
See the difference? Plot connects events with cause and effect. One thing leads to another!
💡 Tip: Every scene in your story should either move the plot forward OR reveal something important about your character. If a scene does neither, consider cutting it!
⚡ Building Block #4: CONFLICT
Conflict is the PROBLEM or STRUGGLE in your story. It's what makes readers turn the page—they want to know how the problem will be solved!
🤔 Did you know? Without conflict, there's no story. Imagine reading: "Sam woke up, had a perfect day, and went to bed happy." Boring, right? But what if: "Sam woke up to find her house floating in the middle of the ocean"? Now we're interested!
Types of Conflict
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ THE FIVE TYPES OF CONFLICT │
├───────────────────┬────────────────────────────┤
│ TYPE │ DESCRIPTION │
├───────────────────┼────────────────────────────┤
│ Character vs. │ Fighting another person │
│ Character │ or being │
│ │ Example: Hero vs. Villain │
├───────────────────┼────────────────────────────┤
│ Character vs. │ Battling nature or the │
│ Nature │ environment │
│ │ Example: Surviving a storm │
├───────────────────┼────────────────────────────┤
│ Character vs. │ Fighting against rules, │
│ Society │ traditions, or groups │
│ │ Example: Standing up to │
│ │ an unjust law │
├───────────────────┼────────────────────────────┤
│ Character vs. │ Struggling with inner │
│ Self │ doubts, fears, or choices │
│ │ Example: Overcoming shyness│
├───────────────────┼────────────────────────────┤
│ Character vs. │ Fighting robots, AI, or │
│ Technology │ machines │
│ │ Example: Hacker vs. AI │
└───────────────────┴────────────────────────────┘
💡 Tip: The best stories often have MULTIPLE conflicts! Your hero might fight a villain (character vs. character) while also battling their own fear (character vs. self).
🧠 Memory Device: Remember C-N-S-S-T (the five conflict types) by thinking "Can't Nobody Stop Strong Tales"—Character, Nature, Society, Self, Technology!
👁️ Building Block #5: POINT OF VIEW (POV)
Point of view is WHO is telling the story. It's the "camera angle" through which readers experience your tale.
The Three Main Points of View
1. First Person (I/We) 👤
The narrator is IN the story, telling their own experience.
- Uses: "I walked into the room. My heart was pounding."
- Pros: Very personal and intimate; readers feel close to the narrator
- Cons: Limited—you can only show what this one character knows and experiences
2. Second Person (You) 👥 [Rare in fiction]
The narrator talks directly TO the reader, making THEM the character.
- Uses: "You walk into the room. Your heart is pounding."
- Pros: Immersive; makes reader feel like they're IN the story
- Cons: Can feel awkward or gimmicky; very challenging to sustain
3. Third Person (He/She/They) 👥👥👥
The narrator is OUTSIDE the story, describing characters' actions.
- Uses: "She walked into the room. Her heart was pounding."
- Pros: Flexible; can show multiple characters' experiences
- Cons: Can feel more distant than first person
Third Person: Limited vs. Omniscient
Third person comes in two flavors:
THIRD PERSON LIMITED THIRD PERSON OMNISCIENT
↓ ↓
Follows ONE Knows EVERYTHING
character closely about ALL characters
↓ ↓
"She entered the "She entered the room,
room, nervous about nervous about the
the interview. She interview. She didn't
didn't notice the man notice the man in the
in the corner." corner—who recognized
her immediately and
began plotting his
revenge."
💡 Tip for beginners: Start with first person or third person limited. These are easier to control because you're only managing one character's perspective at a time.
⚠️ Common mistake: Switching POV randomly! If you start a chapter in Sarah's head, don't suddenly jump into Tom's thoughts without a clear scene or chapter break. This confuses readers.
📝 Putting It All Together: Examples
Let's see how all five building blocks work together in different stories:
Example 1: A Simple Story
CHARACTER: Maya, a 12-year-old girl who loves her grandmother
SETTING: A small coastal town, present day
PLOT: Maya's grandmother loses her memory, and Maya tries to help her remember by showing her meaningful places from their past
CONFLICT: Character vs. Nature (fighting against illness/aging)
POV: First person ("I took Grandma's hand and led her to the beach where we used to collect shells...")
This creates a touching, personal story about love and loss.
Example 2: An Adventure Story
CHARACTER: Jake, a teenage hacker who's reckless but brilliant
SETTING: A futuristic city where AI controls everything, year 2157
PLOT: Jake discovers the AI is malfunctioning and will destroy the city in 24 hours; he must decide whether to trust the authorities or fix it himself
CONFLICT: Multiple! Character vs. Technology (fighting the AI), Character vs. Self (learning to trust others), Character vs. Time (24-hour deadline)
POV: Third person limited ("Jake stared at the code scrolling across his screen. His hands shook as he realized what it meant...")
This creates a fast-paced thriller with high stakes.
Example 3: A Friendship Story
CHARACTER: Two best friends, Emma (outgoing) and Lily (shy)
SETTING: A middle school, present day
PLOT: Emma becomes popular and starts ignoring Lily; Lily must decide whether to fight for the friendship or let it go
CONFLICT: Character vs. Character (Emma vs. Lily) AND Character vs. Self (Lily's internal struggle about self-worth)
POV: Third person omniscient (showing both girls' thoughts and feelings)
This creates a relatable story about growing up and changing friendships.
⚠️ Common Mistakes Beginning Fiction Writers Make
Mistake #1: Too Much Description, Not Enough Action 📚
Problem: "The room had blue walls. The walls were painted a light blue, like the sky on a summer day. There was a window with white curtains. The curtains had little flowers on them..."
Solution: Weave description into action! "Maya yanked open the flower-printed curtains, flooding the blue room with morning light."
Mistake #2: Telling Instead of Showing 🎭
Problem: "John was angry."
Solution: "John's fists clenched. His jaw tightened as he glared at the broken vase."
Let readers EXPERIENCE the emotion through actions, dialogue, and body language rather than just naming it.
Mistake #3: Flat Characters Who Never Change 🎭
Problem: Your character is exactly the same at the end as they were at the beginning.
Solution: Give your character an arc—a journey of growth or change. A scared character learns bravery. A selfish character learns generosity. Even small changes make characters feel real!
Mistake #4: No Clear Conflict 😴
Problem: Things happen, but there's no real problem to solve or obstacle to overcome.
Solution: Ask yourself: "What does my character want, and what's stopping them from getting it?" That's your conflict!
Mistake #5: Starting in the Wrong Place ⏰
Problem: Starting too early ("I woke up at 7am, brushed my teeth, ate breakfast...") or too late (starting after the interesting stuff already happened).
Solution: Start as close to the action as possible! Begin when something changes or when a problem arises.
Mistake #6: Inconsistent POV 👁️↔️👁️
Problem: "I walked into the room. Sarah was thinking about her math test. I didn't notice her worried expression."
Solution: Stick to one POV! If you're in "I" (the narrator's) head, you can't know what Sarah is thinking. Stay consistent within each scene.
🎯 Key Takeaways
Let's review the essential concepts from this lesson:
Every story needs five building blocks: Character, Setting, Plot, Conflict, and Point of View
Characters should feel real—give them wants, fears, strengths, and weaknesses
Setting is more than just location—it's the time, place, and atmosphere that affects everything in your story
Plot follows a structure: Beginning → Rising Action → Climax → Falling Action → Ending
Conflict is the problem that drives your story—without it, nothing interesting happens!
Point of View determines who tells the story and how close readers feel to characters
Show, don't tell: Let readers experience emotions and events through actions and dialogue
Characters should change: Give them an arc of growth or transformation
Start close to the action: Don't waste time on boring setup
Every story element should work together: Characters respond to setting, plot creates conflict, POV affects how we experience everything
📋 Quick Reference Card: Fiction Writing Essentials
╔════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ THE FIVE BUILDING BLOCKS CHEAT SHEET ║
╠════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ CHARACTER: WHO ║
║ • Protagonist (main character) ║
║ • Antagonist (opposes protagonist) ║
║ • Give them wants, fears, flaws ║
║ ║
║ SETTING: WHERE + WHEN ║
║ • Place (location) ║
║ • Time (when story happens) ║
║ • Use sensory details (5 senses) ║
║ ║
║ PLOT: WHAT HAPPENS ║
║ • Exposition → Rising Action → Climax → ║
║ Falling Action → Resolution ║
║ • Use cause and effect ║
║ ║
║ CONFLICT: THE PROBLEM ║
║ • Character vs. Character ║
║ • Character vs. Nature ║
║ • Character vs. Society ║
║ • Character vs. Self ║
║ • Character vs. Technology ║
║ ║
║ POINT OF VIEW: WHO TELLS THE STORY ║
║ • First Person: "I walked..." ║
║ • Third Person Limited: "She walked..." ║
║ (one character's perspective) ║
║ • Third Person Omniscient: "She walked..." ║
║ (all characters' perspectives) ║
║ ║
║ GOLDEN RULES: ║
║ ✓ Show, don't tell ║
║ ✓ Start close to the action ║
║ ✓ Give characters an arc ║
║ ✓ Stay consistent with POV ║
║ ✓ Every scene should advance plot OR reveal ║
║ character ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
📚 Further Study
Ready to dive deeper into fiction writing? Check out these helpful resources:
Writer's Digest (https://www.writersdigest.com) - Tons of articles, tips, and prompts for fiction writers of all levels
Now Novel (https://www.nownovel.com/blog) - Great blog posts about character development, plotting, and story structure
Reedsy Learning (https://blog.reedsy.com/learning) - Free courses on storytelling, character creation, and writing techniques
🚀 Your Next Steps
Now it's time to practice! Here's your assignment:
Create a character: Write down their name, age, greatest fear, biggest dream, and one secret
Invent a setting: Describe a place using all five senses
Develop a conflict: What problem will your character face in this setting?
Choose your POV: Will you tell the story in first person or third person?
Write a beginning: Draft the first paragraph of a story using your character, setting, and conflict
Remember: Every great writer started exactly where you are now. The only difference between a writer and someone who wants to write is that a writer actually writes! ✍️
Happy writing! 🎉