100 Terms Every Writer Should Know

No.	Term	Definition
1.	Active voice	Uses a subject that performs the action in a sentence.
2.	Adjective	Describes a noun with qualities or attributes.
3.	Adverb	Modifies a verb adjective or adverb.
4.	Alliteration	Repeats initial consonant sounds in nearby words.
5.	Ambiguity	Allows more than one meaning in a passage.
6.	Analogy	Compares two things to clarify an idea.
7.	Anecdote	Brief story that illustrates a point.
8.	Antagonist	Opposing character who creates conflict for the protagonist.
9.	Antithesis	Pairs contrasting ideas to sharpen meaning.
10.	Aphorism	Concise statement that expresses a general truth.
11.	Apostrophe	Addresses an absent person or abstract idea directly.
12.	Arc	Character change across a story or scene.
13.	Assonance	Repeats vowel sounds in nearby words.
14.	Atmosphere	Emotional tone created by setting and language.
15.	Beat	Small unit of action or emotion within a scene.
16.	Bias	Preference that skews perception and interpretation.
17.	Bildungsroman	Coming of age story focused on personal growth.
18.	Blocking	Planned movement of characters within a scene.
19.	Bomb	Hidden threat known to readers but not characters.
20.	Brevity	Uses fewer words without losing meaning.
21.	Cadence	Rhythmic flow of language in sentences.
22.	Callback	Later reference to an earlier detail for effect.
23.	Catharsis	Emotional release produced by a dramatic climax.
24.	Causality	Links events through clear cause and effect.
25.	Characterization	Reveals personality through action speech and detail.
26.	Cliche	Overused phrase that has lost originality.
27.	Cliffhanger	Ending that leaves a major question unresolved.
28.	Climax	Turning point of greatest tension in the plot.
29.	Closure	Provides a satisfying ending to key story questions.
30.	Conflict	Struggle between opposing forces driving the narrative.
31.	Connotation	Emotional associations carried by a word beyond its meaning.
32.	Continuity	Consistency of facts details and timeline across a story.
33.	Contrast	Highlights differences to emphasize meaning or mood.
34.	Copyedit	Improves grammar style and consistency in a manuscript.
35.	Counterpoint	Balances a main idea with a contrasting element.
36.	Creative nonfiction	True storytelling using techniques of fiction.
37.	Dangle modifier	Misplaced phrase that seems to modify the wrong word.
38.	Denotation	Literal dictionary meaning of a word.
39.	Description	Sensory detail that helps readers picture a scene.
40.	Dialogue	Spoken exchange between characters on the page.
41.	Diction	Word choice that shapes tone and clarity.
42.	Draft	Early version of a text meant for revision.
43.	Dramatic irony	Readers know something characters do not know.
44.	Dynamic character	Character who changes significantly during the story.
45.	Ellipsis	Omission of words to create pause or trailing thought.
46.	Em dash	Punctuation mark used for breaks and emphasis in sentences.
47.	Enjambment	Poetic line break that carries meaning into the next line.
48.	Epigraph	Short quotation at the start of a work.
49.	Epiphany	Sudden insight that changes a character perspective.
50.	Epithet	Descriptive phrase attached to a person or thing.
51.	Ethos	Credibility or moral appeal of a speaker.
52.	Exposition	Background information that explains context and stakes.
53.	Figurative language	Nonliteral phrasing that creates vivid meaning.
54.	Flashback	Scene that jumps to an earlier time in the story.
55.	Foil	Character who highlights another character traits by contrast.
56.	Foreshadowing	Hints that suggest future events or outcomes.
57.	Free indirect style	Third person narration colored by a character inner voice.
58.	Genre	Category defined by shared themes conventions and expectations.
59.	Hook	Opening that captures reader attention quickly.
60.	Hyperbole	Exaggeration used for emphasis or humor.
61.	Imagery	Language that appeals to the senses.
62.	In medias res	Begins a story in the middle of action.
63.	Inciting incident	Event that launches the main conflict of the plot.
64.	Inference	Conclusion drawn from evidence rather than direct statement.
65.	Irony	Gap between expectation and reality that creates meaning.
66.	Jargon	Specialized language used by a particular group.
67.	Juxtaposition	Places elements side by side to highlight differences.
68.	Kerning	Adjusts spacing between letters for readability and style.
69.	Line edit	Revises sentences for clarity rhythm and voice.
70.	Logline	One sentence summary of a story premise.
71.	Metaphor	Direct comparison that equates one thing with another.
72.	Meter	Pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in verse.
73.	Motif	Recurring image idea or phrase that reinforces theme.
74.	Narration	The telling voice that presents the story to readers.
75.	Narrator	Voice or character who tells the story.
76.	Onomatopoeia	Word that imitates a natural sound.
77.	Pacing	Speed at which a story unfolds for readers.
78.	Paradox	Seemingly contradictory statement that reveals a truth.
79.	Parallelism	Uses similar structure to link related ideas.
80.	Pathos	Appeal that evokes emotion in an audience.
81.	Perspective	Angle from which events are perceived and described.
82.	Plot	Sequence of events arranged to create meaning and tension.
83.	Point of view	Narrative position that determines what readers can know.
84.	Prologue	Opening section that provides setup before the main story.
85.	Prose	Ordinary written language that is not verse.
86.	Protagonist	Main character whose goals drive the story.
87.	Query letter	Pitch sent to an agent or editor for consideration.
88.	Red herring	Misleading clue that distracts from the true issue.
89.	Register	Level of formality in language use.
90.	Resolution	Ending that settles conflict and shows outcomes.
91.	Revision	Reworking content structure and language to improve a draft.
92.	Rhetoric	Effective use of language to persuade or influence.
93.	Rhythm	Pattern of beats created by sentence structure and sound.
94.	Rising action	Events that build tension leading to the climax.
95.	Satire	Uses humor to criticize human flaws or institutions.
96.	Scene	Unit of story in a specific time and place.
97.	Show don’t tell	Conveys meaning through action detail and subtext.
98.	Simile	Comparison using like or as to create imagery.
99.	Subtext	Implied meaning beneath the spoken or stated words.
100.	Suspense	Tension from uncertainty about what will happen next.