Action Tag: Action used to identify the speaker of words spoken in quotes. Ex: “Fine!” Sherry slammed the door.
Agent: A person that represents your work and tries to sell it for you to editors.
Backdrop: The setting of your story.
Backstory: What happened to your characters before your story began.
Bibliography: A list of sources used to write a non fiction article.
Cliché: A stereotypical expression that has been overused Ex: He was strong as an ox.
Conflict: That which causes your character to struggle.
Cover letter: A letter that is sent with a manuscript or proposal to introduce your project and yourself to an editor or agent.
Editor: A person who works for a magazine, newspaper, or publishing house to whom you submit your work for publication.
Fat: Redundant words and phrases that weakens the writing.
Fiction: works of the imagination, made-up stories.
Flashback: Inserting an earlier event into the chronological structure of a story.
Manuscript: A typed out story, article, or novel.
Metaphor: Using a word or phrase to suggest comparison. Ex: “A mighty fortress is our God.”
Narrative: When the story moves into narration, or telling and explaining what is happening outside a character point of view.
Non Fiction: works that are not fictional.
Point of View (POV): The position of the narrator. Who is telling the story at that moment. Whose head are we in as we read along?
Proposal: A thorough presentation of your work to an editor or agent for publication.
Query Letter: A letter to propose your project to an editor or agent. Usually one page long.
Said Tag: Used to identify the speaker of words spoken in quotes. Ex: “Do what you want,” Sherry said.
Scene: The section of a story that represents a single episode or event.
Self Addressed Stamped Envelope (SASE): An envelope addressed to yourself with sufficient postage that is send with a query letter or manuscript so that the editor or agent can mail their decision back to you at your cost.
Simile: A figure of speck in which two things are compared by using “like” or “as.” Ex: She is like a rose.
Synopsis: A one to two page summary of the plot of a novel.
Unsolicited: When you send in your work to an editor or agent without their permission to do so.