RKMBs Forums .::Robegories::. Media So, what's the most important element of fiction?

Is it the intriguing plot that keeps you guessing and/or makes you think? Is it the great characterization that makes you fall in love or hate? Is it a matter of realistic setting that wisks you away to lands far away (or that don't even exist)? Is it the colorful style the author uses, or perhaps the overall theme that hits home?

What is the one thing that matters most to you?

The elements are:

Plot
Character
Setting
Point of View
Style, Tone, and Language
Theme
Symbolism, Allegory, and Image

The list can vary, of course, but that's the one I've seen in used the most.

I think it's the story, and whether or not it's believable.

That said, obviously genre is important too. A fantasy book with magic, dragons, and gods is not the slightest bit believable. But the story itself might be.

I read a book once which was set in a fantasy world, the world itself was obviously not believable. The story itself was quite good though, up until the point where a 10 year old buy was introduced. A boy who knew more of the world than the other characters. A boy who was far more intelligent than the other characters. A boy who could calculate advanced equations in split seconds. And a boy who had never left his home town, who had never recieved any kind of education.
That sorta ruined the story.
So, the story itself has to be believable

Style, tone and language. You can forgive plotholes, flat characterization and preachy agendas if the novel is well written. Hell, I haven't enjoyed an Anne Rice story for years (Blood & Gold was the ast truely great novel she turned out) but I keep reading them because I can't get enough of her purple. She has an eloquence that allows you to be consumed by her description of a door knob (for 6+ pages).

The most important element of fiction is carbon. Without carbon, there's no paper.

For books I would definitely have to say characterization. I have trouble keeping track of multiple characters, so if they are well defined it makes it a lot easier for me to enjoy the book.

The most important element of fiction is that it not be true otherwise it becomes non-fiction!

That's why you're the Cunt-Fu master.

I'm surprised more people haven't said plot.

Plot would by second choice.

Aye verily. Perhaps I should have asked people to order them.

Whatever.

This should be a poll.

I lack polling power in this forum. The mods are more than welcome to whip one up, however.

They have my undying allegiance.

Thats changed.
When I was mod of the sports forum,I'm sure I was able to to generate polls in any forum.

Should this thread have a poll? single choice
	Yes
	No
Votes accepted starting: 2005-03-23 7:30 PM You must vote before you can view the results of this poll.

Coffee or tea? the burning question single choice
	Coffee
	Tea
Votes accepted starting: 2005-03-23 7:30 PM You must vote before you can view the results of this poll.

Can mods from other forums add polls to forums they dont moderate?

Yes or No single choice

Yes (0%, 0 Votes)

No (0%, 0 Votes)

No Votes Yet Voting on this poll ends: 2005-03-23 8:32 PM

Your poll is defective.

And yes, that was a dirty pun.

I was just making a point to Thursday....sorry,Wednesday (those days of the week all look the same to me),cause he obviously didnt realise power extends beyond his forum!

RASCIST!

No,I'm DATIST!

Someone who is against dating?

No,thats called a rex!

There's a diffence between being against something and being unable to do something.

I am ashamed .

Aw dont feel bad lil fella!
You cant help being stupid!

RASCIST!

So, what's the most important element of fiction? single choice

Plot (keeps you guessing and/or makes you think) (43%, 3 Votes)

Characterization (makes you fall in love or hate) (29%, 2 Votes)

Setting (wisks you away to lands far away or nonexistant) (0%, 0 Votes)

Point of View (something more personal and involved or broader in scope) (0%, 0 Votes)

Style, Tone, and Language (eloquence in a doorknob) (29%, 2 Votes)

Theme (something that hits home) (0%, 0 Votes)

Symbolism, Allegory, and Image (the stuff critics love) (0%, 0 Votes)

Other (like genre or some such) (0%, 0 Votes)

Total Votes: 7 Voting on this poll ends: 2005-03-30 7:54 PM

Good poll. I think characterization comes first. If you care about the characters, then everything else seems to fall into place. Bad plots and bad dialogue can hurt but, with good characters, these things do not kill the work of fiction. Bad characters certainly do.

I voted for "Style, Tone, and Language", though I was sorely tempted to vote either for Characterization or Plot -- it's too bad you can't vote for more than one.

The reason I voted for the above is that I think, above all, a writer of fiction needs to be able to use words effectively and poetically, whether it be writing dialogue or description, both of which help to characterize the characters. And a plot is only the idea -- it takes a good use of language in order to translate it into a well-crafted story.

Ultimately, all or most of the elements in the poll need to be taken into consideration when writing or critiquing fiction.

I considered allowing people to vote for two things at once, but I'm a mod (and thus an asshole by definition).

No,just posting at RKMBS makes you an arsehole by definition!

I disagree, kind sir. balloonknot was both a genleman AND a scholar.

There are always exceptions to the rule!