Structural terms

Narrative Hook

An idea or suggestion in a story which catches the reader's attention from the start.

Narrative Enigma

An element in the story which is not explained, making the reader want to read more.

Flashback

To go back to the past, interrupting the chronological order of events.

Flash forward

To show events that happened in the future of the story.

Tension

A feeling of nervousness.

Climax

The most intense part of a story.

Chronological

Going in order of events of which they occurred.

Withholding Information

To hide knowledge from the reader.

Resolution

A firm decision to do or do not do something.

Cliff-hanger

A dramatic ending to a story which ends in uncertainty.

Pace

How fast something is going.

Trajectory

The path the story takes.

Narrative Perspective

The voice the story is written in, the point of view.

Foreshadowing

To indicate a future event.

Cyclical Structure

The story ends in a way that connects back to the beginning.