Four Basics of Writing Fiction

Plot, Dialogue, Character, Unity: These are the four qualities, if done well, that make fiction good. If done poorly, they make fiction bad. Each of the four sections of this workshop will focus on one of these qualities, but all four qualities will be discussed at each meeting. Good plots are characterdriven, but how do you get a character or characters to drive the plot? Good dialogue sounds like real people talk, but it is deceptively more subtle and concise. How do you write it? Good characters are not so much interesting as they are fictional people in whom your readers will become interested, but how do you tell the difference? To write “a good story,” think not only of the words “good” and “story,” but also of the word “a.” Even when there are subplots, there must be a single story that focuses on character as developed by plot and dialogue.