All story devices

Disciplines > Storytelling > Story devices > All story devices

Story devices and techniques are 'tricks of the trade' that authors use to make their story work effectively. Here is an alphabetic list of all devices in this collection.

Anagnorisis: See Discovery.
Analepsis: See Flashback.
Aside: Speaking to the audience.
Back story: The context that gives the story sense.
Character shield: Makes the character invulnerable.
Chekhov's Gun: Initially insignificant then important.
Cliffhanger: Ending with incomplete excitement.
Death trap: Machine that kills the hero slooowly.
Deus ex machina: God in the machine. Magical action.
Diegesis: See Narrator.
Discovery: Revelation that changes story.
Dream sequence: Separated fragment that explains.
Eucatastrophe: See Twist ending.
Exposition: Explaining other parts of story.
Flashback: Narration of earlier events.
Flashforward: Narration of future events.
Flashing Arrow: Indicator of important item.
Fold: Changing direction mid-stream.
Foreshadowing: Hints about what is to come.
Hermeneutic Code: Engaging unanswered question.
Info Dump: See Exposition.
In medias res: Starting the story in the middle.
MacGuffin: Initially important but then not.
Mimesis: See Narrator.
Monologue: Extended speech by character.
Narrative Hook: Opening excitement that captures attention.
Narrator: Absent telling what is happening.
Peripeteia: See Reversal.
Plot Coupon: Item that is a plot substitute.
Plot Dump: See Exposition.
Point of view: First person, second and narrator.
Proairetic Code: Sequential events.
Prolepsis: See Flashforward.
Prologue: See Exposition.
Quibble: Wriggling out of an agreement.
Racconto: See Flashback.
Realization: The 'aha' moment.
Red Herring: Something that distracts from the final truth.
Reversal: Sudden change, for example of fortunes.
Science and magic: Gets you out of a sticky situation.
Split: Breaking into separate story fragments.
Twist ending: Unexpected end to the story.

USA:

UK:

Canada:

All story devices

See also