Eldoria
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The Narrative Map for Writing Quality Fiction
The following is a narrative map that we can learn to write quality fiction content. Each Author can have different goals related to the standard of its fiction content. We can consider the following narrative aspects:
Originality: the content has an original, innovative premise that may differ from established tropes.
Well grammar: The content has a proper sentence structure and minimal literal errors.
Prose: The content has a certain beautiful style of language and makes it easy to understand, such as the use of parables, hyperboles, metaphors, satirical, euphemisms, sarcasm, etc.
Readability: Fictional content has a reader-friendly format and can adapt to the media format, whether it is a web novel or a paper book.
Visualization: Fictional content is easy to imagine in the mind in a cinematic way, as if watching a live scene.
Smooth pacing: The rhythm of the story flows smoothly, the transition changes between scenes are smooth, the text has a breath that makes the reader know when to be tense, when to be silent, when to scream.
Symbolism: The content has consistent symbols that have certain meanings.
Hook: The content has an emotional appeal that triggers curiosity to continue reading.
Coherence: The content has a consistent internal logic, minimal plot holes and logical explanations.
Emotions: The content has a depth of emotion that is relatable to the reader and can make the reader emotional, such as entertained, laughing, sad, tense, horrified, even crying.
Stakes: The content has something valuable to the protagonist that influences how the protagonist acts in the story to maintain tension.
For example, the protagonist's defeat in war could lead to the collapse of civilization (high stakes), or the protagonist's defeat could cause the protagonist's loved ones to suffer (personal stakes).
Complex characters: the content has characters who truly live as humans who have personalities, backgrounds, relationships, can think, feel, and act in their world. Characters have unique voices that can be identified without tags or additional explanations.
Living worldbuilding: the content has a living world that can move on its own, has lore, and has a civilization with a societal structure, culture, and even a power system.
Thematic depth: the content contains or touches on themes that are relevant across cultures and eras. For example, the theme of humanity about the meaning of being human and the morality of good vs. evil continues to be debated across eras.
Conflict and plot: the content has varied conflicts and a dynamic plot, not easy to predict, and plot twists.
Solid POV: the content has a point of view that can adapt to the needs of the narrative that makes the reader enter the story.
Narrative style: the content has unique imagery that is the author's signature where the content can be identified as the author.
Foreshadowing: the content has explicit or implicit clues that explain certain phenomena in the future.
Impressive ending: the content has an impressive ending to close the series.
Cross-audience: content has a wide audience reach, across genders, ages, cultures, and minimal censorship.
Cross-platform: content can be adapted onto various platforms such as web novels, books, comics, audio, anime, films, games, even opera.
Ambiguity: the content of the story has a debatable meaning and opens up space for discussion and study.
Artistic honesty: Content contains the author's vision in imagery and represents the author's inner voice and hopes for the story.
Aesthetic philosophy: content can convey a deep story aesthetically, even if it contains sensitive, tragic or even taboo issues.
Reader impact: Story content has real consequences and impacts on readers and can change their mindsets and even indirectly influence culture.
For example, mythology, folklore, and legends often serve as the foundation of culture.
