Back Story 

Used when the author feels it is important for the reader to know something that has happened prior to the current situation described in the narrative. Readers very often do not experience the event, so the narrator informs of the back story.

Characters

Protagonist - This is the central character of a story with some novels having more than one main protagonist. 

Antagonist - This is the character that is opposite the protagonist – the rival character to the protagonist and is the reason for character conflict. 

Narrator - The Point of View is a term refers to the narration of your novel.  Who is telling the story?

Cardboard Character - This is a typical or stereotyped character. These characters can often be a representation of certain stereotypes that we see in society.

Round Character - This is a complex character that takes time to understand and to discuss their thoughts, views, and actions. This character can often be portrayed as conflicted or contradictory. 

Developing Character (Dynamic) - The protagonist of the story is often a developing character. The change brought on by an event in the story which alters the outlook of the character.

Confidant Character - This is a trusted character and allows the writer to question the actions/views of the protagonist. 

Static Character - This is a character that does not change over the course of the story. 

Minor Character - These characters support the main characters and help with the plot development to move the story forward. 

Editing

Delves deeper than proofreading, into the manuscript and looks at how the information is presented and its focus is to ensure that the content presented is easily understood by the reader and helps to ensure it is organised and more structured.  There are various types of editing as follows:

Substantive Editing - This is also referred to as development editing and looks at the overall structure, organising and logical consistency of the manuscript.

Copy Editing - This is where grammar, style, repetition, and jargon are looked at.

Proofreading - Minor errors like grammar, style, punctuation, spelling, etc are corrected.

Formatting - The formatting will be looked at and this is more important for academic work to be produced for a specific journal.

References/Literature Cited - This checks that the bibliography is structured correctly following a specific style and again more for academic work for specific publications or journals.

Flashback 

Used when the narrator or the main character takes the story back in time, and the events go back and forth between the past and the present.

Flash-forward 

Seen when the author brings the reader into the future. This might be something experienced by the character or it could be future event in the story itself. 

Foreshadowing

An indication of events that are to come.

Hyperbole 

When something is over exaggerated to make a point. The exaggeration is not meant in the literal sense but is meant to help the reader understand the reality of the moment.

Imagery 

Creates visuals for the reader that appeals to the senses and can often include figurative language. 

Plot

Plot structures how the elements of the story are arranged. Edward Morgan Forrester, (EM Forester) English novelist, short story writer and essayist in his Aspects of a Novel (1927) defines that “stories are events that happen in chronological order and the plot is the casual and logical structure which connects these events together”.

Plot Twists in Screenwriting

The Routine Killer – It is the scene that kicks off the action.  It should be unexpected/sudden and will change the status quo.

Plot Thickeners - New plot twists are called plot thickeners.  They do not change the course of the original plot but they make it more suspenseful.

Proofreading

More than often takes place at the end, prior to the manuscript being sent for publication.  It refers to the process of correcting superficial errors, like those of spelling, grammar, syntax (Sequence of words/phrases), punctuation and formatting.

Set Up

A setup implies further action.  Make sure every setup has a payoff.

Subplot

Secondary storyline that supports the main storyline.

Stakes

How high are the stakes?  A reader can also ask - so what is the big deal? The stakes in your story should be high to create tension and tension leads to suspense.