Since we're talking about story today, why don't we kick it off with one. As you read, see if you can identify the element of storytelling.

Fight by Polina Sergeeva

I walked over to Tommy and slapped him in the face.

“Argh!” he said. “Why did you do that?”

“You know why,” I said.

Some background: Tommy was telling us a story he had just written. It was really bad. He needed a slap.

On Tommy's face was the red imprint of a hand.

My hand stung, but I felt good for standing up to bad storytelling.

Still, I wondered if I had gone too far.

The Foundation of Writing

Some people say there are five elements of story. Some say ten. I say six (for now at least). Here they are:

1. Action. What are the people in your story doing?

2. Dialogue. What are they saying?

3. Description. What are they seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, and smelling?

4. Introspection (also known as inner monologue). What are they thinking?

5. Emotion. How do they feel?

6. Exposition. What other information does the narrator (IE you) want us to know?

Here is the story above  tagged with its element:

I walked over to Tommy and slapped him in the face. ACTION

“Argh!” he said. “Why did you do that?”

“You know why,” I said. DIALOGUE

Some background: Tommy was telling us a story he had just written. It was really bad. He needed a slap. EXPOSITION

There was an outline of a hand on Tommy's face. It was red. DESCRIPTION

My hand stung, but I felt good that I had stood up against bad storytelling. EMOTION

Still, I wondered what had come over me. INTROSPECTION

If You Don't Have Balance, You Get Slapped

About a week ago, Ryan posted a practice on An Interview With Tom Davis, Pt I. He had some good things to say, but his writing centered on just two elements. After I told him to try to touch on all the elements, his writing got much better.

Wiggle room is allowed, though. For example, some writers will focus on one or two of these more than the others.

If you favor a particular element more than the others, that's awesome. Part of discovering your voice is finding your own balance. Just don't forget the others.

Another important thing, most literary writers tend to avoid exposition. Use too much and you'll be accused of “telling” rather than “showing.” Exposition is the mayonnaise of storytelling. It can make for a moist, delicious sandwich, but too much will trigger your gag reflex.

PRACTICE

Write a story about a schoolyard fight. Try to use all six elements of storytelling. If you don't, I'm going to come to your house and slap you. Seriously. I'll hack your email address, find out where you live, and slap you. Watch yourself.

Fifteen minutes. Post it in the comments.

(Also, I don't know actually how to hack an email address. In case you were legitimately worried. Hyperbole, people.)

Joe Bunting is an author and the leader of The Write Practice community. He is also the author of the new book Crowdsourcing Paris, a real life adventure story set in France. It was a #1 New Release on Amazon. Follow him on Instagram (@jhbunting).

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