This Is What the Laws of Grammar Say

This Is What the Laws of Grammar Say
Chapter 1:  General Things to Consider

The key elements that every story should include (with the exception of symbolism... that's an added bonus)


Plot:
--  Introduction of conflict (initial incident) and characters
--  Rising Action – does it fit?  Build in intensity?  Are there plot holes?
--  Climax (most exciting part of the story) – What and where is it?
--  Dramatic irony or foreshadowing present?  Red herrings?
Character:
--  Is the characterization effective? 
--  Does the dialogue work for the story?
--  Are the characters realistic?  Are they round or flat?  (Did you make a Mary-Sue?)
--  Do they move the plot forward in some way?
Setting:
--  How does the detail work in the story?
--  What kind of tone does the detail/setting create?  (Are they in a dank, dark room that's just creepy?  A field of daisy's that's happy-go-lucky?)
--  How are the descriptions working?
--  How iis the setting working?  (Did you keep it consistant?  There probably aren't many bikini competitions in the Alps or the Andes or Siberia.  Just like there are probably very few parkas in the Sahara.)
Point of View:
--  How does the chosen POV work in this story?
--  Would a different POV work better?  (Action stories are better related to a 3^rd person limited or omniscient point of view, while personal growth stories work better from a 1^st Person POV.)
--  What kinds of strategies do we see with the chosen POV?  (Why does it work for your story?  What does it have to offer that makes your story unlike anything else ever written on that topic?)
--  Consider dramatic interior monologue, stream of conscious, etc.
Style:
--  How does the chosen style work in the story?
--  What kind of language is present?  Does it work in the story?  (Using old English in a modern story probably wouldn't fly.  Same as using bubbly sounding words doesn't work in horror stories.)
--  How is tone working to create a style and a voice?  (How does the way you say what you want the characters to say and do effect the story?  Are you making a play on your cynic beliefs about love?  You'd probably consider sarcasm then.)
--  Also consider things that stick out about style – creativity, things that are different than what we've seen before, etc.
Symbolism:
--  What kinds of symbols are present in this story?  Are they recurring (motifs)?
--  Does the symbolism work for this story?  How could it work better?
Theme:
--  What kind of overall theme is present in this story?
--  How noticeable is it to the reader?
--  Is it what the writer intended?  If not, is it still an acceptable them for the story?
--  Does the them match the story?  Does it work?