Literature

Literature

Of or pertaining to the art of writing in any form or style, most especially published works.

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Literature > Fiction

action outline

Literature; Fiction

Presents the plot and conflicts with little regard for staging. The author is describing a world idea, not telling the story. An action outline is a synopsis of a book not yet ...

at stake

Literature; Fiction

Drama is powerful if something is at stake: that is, if the characters involved have something to gain and something to lose. The reader must have something at stake as well — a ...

author surrogate

Literature; Fiction

A character whom the author, consciously or unconsciously, models after himself. Such characters (e.g. Jubal Harshaw, ''Stranger in a Strange Land'') often dominate the story when ...

authorism

Literature; Fiction

Inappropriate intrusion of the writer’s physical surroundings, mannerisms, or prejudices into the narrative. Overtly, characters pour cups of coffee whenever they’re thinking, ...

backfill

Literature; Fiction

Providing background in the storyline flow, rather than in a prolog. Many devices are available: flashback, lecture (generally static and to be avoided), dream sequence, ...

bait and switch

Literature; Fiction

When an author encourages the reader to invest attention in a developing emotional or suspenseful situation (‘bait’), only to substitute (‘switch’) a high-action payoff which has ...

begin fallacy

Literature; Fiction

Describing action that is introduced to the reader for the first time by saying that so-and-so ‘began to’. Eliminating the ‘began to’ almost always strengthens the text.