Learning to write well is an ongoing, life-long process. Learning writing terms is too! There are so many, and I’m just learning, but I hope this “dictionary” will help you as you write.

I’m still figuring so many things out, but I intend to continue to learn even as I write and long after!

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Writing terms about characters

Protagonist (or protag) – this is the main character, and he drives the story forward. Often the “good guy,” but not always!

Antagonist – this is the character that is opposing the protag. It’s not always the bad guy; it just means this character opposes whatever the protags goal is.

Love interest – in a cozy mystery, this is more often a sidekick or BFF. Lots of cozies have a bit of romance (mine does!), but that BFF is super important!

Minor or tertiary characters – these fill the story world out. They’re not main characters (MCs), but they might be the coffee shop barista or, in my story, some of the fellow birders.

Foil – the foil character is basically the opposite of the protag. It’s different from the antagonist, though. The foil draws attention to the protag’s qualities – good and bad. Examples – Luke Skywalker and Han Solo, Forrest Gump and Lieutenant Dan, Scarlett and Melanie.

Kinds of writing

It’s easy to get autobiography (you write the story of your life) and biography (someone writes about you) mixed up. A memoir is more personal experience than an autobiography – it’s more about a specific part of the writer’s life.

Copywriting is when you write advertisements, brochures, websites, and sales materials.

An anthology is a collection of short stories often written by multiple authors.

Writing a feature story involves more depth about a specific topic – probably written for a magazine, newspaper, or website.

If you write fiction, you write made-up stories. That’s what I’m doing with my cozy mystery! Fan fiction is different. It exists primarily online and is when a writer uses characters and/or settings of a story that’s already been written. Learn more about fanfic here.

More writing terms to know

Genre – a specific category or type of writing. Kind of like a niche. It could be poetry, fantasy, sci-fi, etc.

Draft – when you’re writing, you may have numerous drafts. A draft still needs editing and proofing.

Manuscript – this is the completed writing. It may still get edited, but the manuscript is what goes to a publisher.

No writer or reader wants a plot hole! We’ve all read books and seen them – a glaring hole where you finish the book and think, “WHAT HAPPENED??” It’s so frustrating, and as a writer, we have to avoid plot holes!

Plot twist – compared to a plot hole, plot twists are good! They’re often in mystery or suspense. I personally love plot twists – they scream, “Surprise!”

A novel is a work of fiction that is at least 40,000 words. Compared to that, a novella is usually 17k-under 40k, while a short story is 3500-7500. Click HERE for a great guide to what genres need what lengths.

Point of view is the perspective of who is telling the story. POV can be a problem for many writers! This will probably be my next blog post because it’s something I’ve struggled with.

Subplot is that secondary storyline in fiction.

What writers should never do

Plagiarize! Plagiarism is a huge no-no in any form or fashion. Just don’t do it!

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Read What is a Cozy? to learn more about cozy mysteries and read Writing Conflict to learn more on how to do it! Then, follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram, and subscribe to my newsletter to keep up with news about my book and any special offers!

Hi, I’m Jen! I’ve been married for over 37 years, have 5 amazing kids, and have 3 adorable grandkids. I homeschooled our three youngest children and used to blog about homeschooling. I also taught Oral Communication as an adjunct instructor for over 5 years.

Jen Dodrill Writes is born of a passion of mine – to write a novel! My first cozy mystery – Birds Alive! – released Feb. 27, 2024 with Book #2 in the series on the way in 2025!

When I’m not working, you’ll find me writing, spending time with my family, or curled up on the couch reading and drinking a mug of dark roast coffee. (Don’t forget to check out my mug shop – JDMugs!)