Considered most common:
Figurative Language - the use of words to express meaning beyond the literal meaning of the words themselves
* Metaphor - contrasting to seemingly unalike things to enhance the meaning of a situation or theme without using 'like' or 'as'
* Simile - contrasting to seemingly unalike things to enhance the meaning of a situation or theme using 'like' or 'as'
* Hyperbole - exaggeration
* Personification - giving non-human objects human characteristics
Irony - a contrast or incongruity between expectations for a situation and what is reality The difference between the surface meaning of something and the underlying meaning Or the difference between what might be expected to happen and what actually happens
Mood - evokes certain feelings or vibes in readers through words and descriptions, (also referred to as the atmosphere of a story)
Atmosphere - is the feeling, emotion, or mood that an author creates in a narrative through descriptive language
Style - this describes the way an author uses words
Word choice - the use of rich, colorful, precise language that communicates not just in a functional way, but in a way that moves and enlightens the reader
Sentence structure - the way a sentence is arranged grammatically
Sentence arrangement - the location of ideas and the placement of emphasis within a sentence
Some additional elements of writing, for spicing things up:
Allegory - narrative form in which the characters are representative of some larger humanistic trait (i.e. greed, vanity, or bravery) and attempt to convey some larger lesson or meaning to life
Allusion - indirectly refers to external people, events, or things
Alliteration - words with the same sound or letter appear in a sentence, often consecutively
Anaphora - repeats the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive sentences
Apostrophe - a writer or speaker, speaking directly to someone who is not present or is dead, or speaks to an inanimate object
Assonance - takes place when two or more words close to one another repeat the same vowel sound but start with different consonant sounds.
Catharsis - an emotional discharge through which one can achieve a state of moral or spiritual renewal, or achieve a state of liberation from anxiety and stress
Character - a person, place, or thing performing traditionally human activities or functions
* Protagonist - character the story revolves around
* Antagonist - character or force that opposes the protagonist
* Minor Character - often provides support and illuminates the protagonist
* Static Character - remains the same
* Dynamic Character - changes in some important way
* Characterization - choices made by the author to reveal a character's personality, appearance, actions, dialogue, and motivations
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Resources to Better Writing (ReOrganizing & Editing)
Non-FictionI have done a considerable amount of research over the years in order to improve my writing abilities. Decided it might be a good time to share them with all the writers on Wattpad. I hope it helps. Enjoy!
