Language:
* Vocabulary: From simple and direct to complex and evocative, writers choose words carefully to create specific effects.
* Sentence structure: They manipulate sentence length, rhythm, and complexity to create a desired pace and tone.
* Figurative language: Metaphors, similes, personification, and other figures of speech add depth and meaning to writing.
* Imagery: Vivid descriptions appeal to the senses, creating a strong impression on the reader.
* Dialogue: Realistic and engaging dialogue reveals character and advances the plot.
* Point of view: Choosing the narrator's perspective impacts the reader's understanding and experience.
* Tone and mood: The writer's attitude and the atmosphere they create influence the reader's emotional response.
Narrative Techniques:
* Plot: The sequence of events in a story, including exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.
* Conflict: The struggle or problem that drives the plot and challenges the characters.
* Character development: Creating believable, relatable characters with motivations, flaws, and growth.
* Setting: The time and place in which the story takes place, impacting the atmosphere and character's experiences.
* Theme: The central idea or message explored in the story.
* Symbolism: Objects, characters, or events that represent something beyond their literal meaning.
* Foreshadowing: Hints or clues that suggest what might happen later in the story.
* Flashback: Interruptions in the timeline to provide backstory or context.
Other Tools:
* Research: Gathering information to create realistic and authentic settings, characters, and events.
* Revision: Editing and refining the writing to improve clarity, flow, and impact.
* Feedback: Seeking input from others to identify strengths and areas for improvement.
* Inspiration: Drawing inspiration from diverse sources like books, movies, music, art, nature, and personal experiences.
Ultimately, the best prose writers use these tools creatively and thoughtfully to tell compelling and impactful stories.