Think about context- the times in which
Setting characters live. Brainstorm setting such as
It’s the time and place in which a story unfolds,
giving mood, atmosphere and context.
Elements(4)
Time
When the story takes place
Use time of day in your story to create
atmosphere.
Time in setting can refer to the length of time in
which the story unfolds (as short as a day or as
long as 1000 years or more).
Time can also refer to time period, the
historical epoch (for example the Middle Ages)
in which your novel is set. [When you
brainstorm your core setting in the Now Novel
dashboard, answer prompts about both to add
time details to your story’s outline.]
Place
Where the story takes place
Place in your novel is the geographical location
of the story’s events (they take place on a
specific planet (or in space), in a specific
country, county, city or neighbourhood (or
span several).
Mood
Atmosphere, surroundings
The ‘mood’ of a story’s setting refers to the
tone you create by providing details of time
and place.
The mood of a dank and rustling wood is very
different to that of a bustling, bright
metropolis.
Context
context’ in setting refers to the way time and
place come together to show how elements of
setting (such as politics, culture, society) shape
(or limit) people’s choices and actions.
political system, cultural practices, the era’s
do’s and don’ts.
Character(8)
Physical description
Anything that you can see about her that gives
us clues to who she is. Please remember that
authors create characters and choose these
physical attributes as part of the character.
 What does the person looks like?
 What do they dress like?
 How does the person carry herself?
 How do they sit, walk and move
Background
This is her past experience that shapes who she
becomes.
 Who is this person?
 Where was she raised?
 What does she know how to do?
 What special skills does she have?
 What education does she have?
 What kind of jobs has she held?
Personality:
This includes demeanor, temperment, etc. Find
actions that illustrate this or characters saying
it. Examples include: shy, outgoing, angry,
impulsive, fearful, etc. Note that
this may change according to the
circumstances, but a person’s personality
usually guides how they respond to situations.
 What kind of person is she?
 What evidence shows the characters
 personality?
Relationships: The interaction with all other
characters.
How does she get along with people?
 Does she have a lot of friends, or only a
 few close friends?
 Does she hate everyone?
 Does she get along with her family?
  Why or why not?
 Doe she fall in love too quickly? Have
 an ongoing rivalry with her sister?
Words and Actions
Not EVERYTHING someone says tells us about
him or her. If you ask me a question and I give
you a direct answer, then that’s not revealing. If
I answer every question with, “Who wants to
know?” that could be revealing). Watch for
topics the person talks about a lot, or words
that are repeated. If the word is repeated, it’s
probably important (be sure to choose words
that tell you something about the character).
 What does the person say and do?
 What do other characters say about
your character?
 Do they talk differently about her
behind her back?
 What does this tell you?
Motivation
 Motivations include money, fear, desire for
fame, need to prove parents wrong, need to
prove parents right, etc.
 Motivation may be what they want, such as
money, or it could be what they are trying
to get away from, such as fear.
 The goal may or may not clear
 from the motivation. Put what they want in
your description, too.
 What is the character trying to achieve
or accomplish?
 What do they like and dislike?
 Why does your character do what she is
 trying to do?
Conflict
External and internal. Sometimes we can be in
conflict with ourselves. Look at
this carefully: it usually drives the plot (or, the
sequence of events in the story).
 What is standing in the way of your
character getting what he or she wants?
 Is there conflict within the character?
 How is this shown in the novel?
Change
Don’t just tell me whether she changes over the
course of the story. Tell me how she does. Not
all characters change. James Bond never gets to
the end of an adventure and says, “All these fast
cars, women, and martinis are so shallow. I
should join the Peace Corps and do something
important with my life.”
 How has the character changed
throughout the novel?
 Have they learned a lesson?
 Is she is nicer, or more considerate?
 How do they think, feel or act
differently?
Plot(5)
The chain of events that make up your story, or
the combination of your plot points.
The 5 Elements of Plot
Exposition
This is your book’s introduction, where you
introduce your characters, establish the setting,
and begin to introduce the primary conflict of
your story.
Often, the exposition of a story only lasts for a
few chapters because readers are eager to dive
into the conflict of the story. Don’t wait too long
to introduce your inciting incident and get the
ball rolling! Many authors make the mistake of
having their exposition be full of interesting
but ultimately unnecessary information about
the world in their book. Don’t do this!
Rising Action
The rising action normally begins with an
inciting incident, or a moment that sets your
story into action. As it progresses, you’ll have
multiple moments of conflict that escalate and
create tension as the story moves toward the
climax.
Think of it as the portion of a roller coaster
where you’re climbing up to the peak. You
want to continue to build your story until the
reader is ready to reach the point where
everything comes crashing down.
This section will take up the largest chunk of
your book and can make or break your story—
so be sure to make every moment of conflict
more interesting than the last. Don’t be afraid
to raise some questions that won’t get
answered until the end of your book.
Climax
The climax is the peak of tension, plot, and
character in your story. It’s the moment that
your reader has been waiting for—so make it
exciting!
Often, this is the point in the story that
everything changes, or where your main
character is forced to make a life-altering
decision. It should be the point where the
reader is unsure where your story is going to
go next. To use our roller coaster analogy,
imagine you’re at the top of the peak and
everything stops: what’s going to happen? A
great climax will leave the readers with this
feeling, forcing them to keep reading until the
end.
Falling Action
This is the time to start resolving conflicts and
subplots so your story doesn’t feel rushed in
the last few chapters. This is also where any
conflicts that arose as a result of the climax can
start being resolved.
Resolution/Denouement
Finally, the resolution is the end of your story
where you can tie up the final loose ends and
bring your story to its happy or tragic ending.
Or, if you’re writing a series, now would be the
time to write a cliffhanger and leave them
eager for the next installment!
Conflict
Conflict is the problem that the protagonist
may encounter along the story
Elements
Man vs Man
A character in the story fights or have a
problem with another character, often
protagonist vs antagonist.
Man vs Society
A character has a problem with the society like
the school, law or the accepted way of doing
things .
Man vs Self
is the conflict between the character and his
own thinking or decisions.
Man vs Nature
Deals with natural phenomenon such as
typhoon, snowstorm, etc.
Man vs Fate
it is about the conflict the character have with
their own fate.
Point Of View
this is the narrator’s position.
First Person Point of View
wherein the narrator is actually in the story or
in the action.
I, we. Me mine, ours, our, myself, ourselves
Third Person OMNISCIENT Point Of
View
it tells the story from all knowing point of view,
the narrator sees the mind of all characters.
She, her, he him, they, them herself, hers,
himself, hers, himself, his, themselves, their,
theirs
Third person LIMITED Point of View.
Also known as camera techniques narrator
because he cannot see what the characters
are thinking

Third Person CENTRAL point of view

it only narrates the central characters point of
view or the views of main characters.

Third Person EDITORIAL Point of View

(PBA)
Wherein the narrator comments on the action
by telling its significance or evaluating the
behavior of the characters.