Whether you are creating a novel, a screenplay, a short story and so forth, certain elements are involved in creating the kind of work that grabs your audience’s attention. How do you want your writing to affect how they feel, do you want them to be able to relate to the main character or the plot? Do you want them to feel sad when for example the main character loses his true love, or happy when they are once again reunited? 

In order to inspire the reader on a deeper level, you have to pull them in and the best way of doing that is by carefully planning the direction of the story or designing a plot. A sturdy plot normally involves an exposition, which is the introduction of a story where the author will introduce the setting as well as the reader to the main character. Following the exposition the author will reveal small hints and clues of the upcoming conflict, which is known as foreshadowing.  Next is the inciting force or “the straw that breaks the camel’s back, per se”, and the cause of the conflict to come. Then the conflict is unveiled leading to the rising action, which is the result of the conflict escalating to a crisis point, which can sometimes be at the same time as the climax or the highest point of the story.   After the climax has taken place, the next element is called the falling action, or events that bring the story to a close, which sometimes happens at the same time of the last plot element, the resolution or conclusion of the story. Below is a graph that demonstrates how these elements come into play in chronological order. (Gleason, 2009)

The above graph illustrates the emotional content of a story where the height of the reader’s experience would be at the climax.

Another main element that is imperative to a story is the character or the characters. There are different levels of characters; first, you have your main or major character, who normally exhibits both good qualities as well as bad ones. The mixtures of the qualities make the character seem three-dimensional or well rounded rather.  Where the reader can relate to the character as well as be able to follow along from the main characters perspective.  A minor character usually shows qualities that emphasis the major characters. For example, if the major character were a confident man, the minor character would show qualities that contradict the major characters personal position by being insecure. These characters are normally flat and two-dimensional, where the writer does not want them to over shadow the main character.  Depending on the characters personalities and positions, they can be either a protagonist, an antagonist or a foil. Where a protagonist is the good person or force, the antagonist is the bad person or force and a foil is a character that provides a contrast to the protagonist. (Gleason, 2009)

In conclusion, the emotions and involvement of your audience depends on the characters that are created, the setting and the actual plot. All these elements not only illustrate a story but it takes the reader on journey.  A journey through the character’s point of view, where the conflict and events where realized through the character’s perspective. In this essence, literature does not only entertain audiences with its elaborate plots, themes and three-dimensional characters, but it can also be very persuasive, as well as inspiring.

References

Gleason, T. (2009, October 7). Phase 1, Chat 1 — Introduction to Literature 215. Retrieved October 8, 2009, from Colorado Technical University Web site: http://breeze.careeredonline.com/p21045634/?session=breeze77wc29ktpmpqkqg

Gleason, T. (2009, October 7). Phase 1, Chat 1 — Introduction to Literature 215. Retrieved October 8, 2009, from Colorado Technical University Web site: http://breeze.careeredonline.com/p21045634/?session=breeze77wc29ktpmpqkqg