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10 Literary Terms Every Writer Should Know

Ignore the odd photograph but you don’t have to know every single literary term in order to be considered a writer. In fact, most people are writers before they discover the detailed nuances of writing and even publishing a book. It is important, however, to employ some of these devices in your writing! Without further ado, let's get started! 



Imagery (This is my favorite) – This is the use of visually descriptive or figurative language in writing. One way to describe this is 'showing' versus telling. Below, is an example. Notice how very flat and uninspired the first example is. Don't you just prefer the second option?

Personification – This is when you give human characteristics to non-human objects or elements. Examples are: 
  • The party died down.
  • The city never sleeps.
  • The wind howled.
  • The iron gates looked down at them cruelly.

Point of view – How your story is told and through whose perspective is what your point of view is. This could be first person, second person, third person, or more that we’ll cover down below. First person is my personal favorite as it helps create immediacy. 

Protagonist – This is the “good guy” in your story or the person your readers will root for. Oftentimes, this is the main character or even you, if you’re writing a nonfiction book.

Antagonist – Also known as the “bad guy,” or the person trying to prevent your protagonist from succeeding. This person or group or organization will likely be the reason for your protagonist’s hardships in your book.

Foreshadowing - is the placement of clues about what will happen in the future of your story. Foreshadowing often appears at the beginning of a story, or a chapter, and it helps the reader develop expectations about the upcoming events.This is particularly useful when you are writing a mystery or thriller. 

Conflict – This is a basic term to describe the difficulties your protagonist or you face in your book. Any issues between characters or elements are known as conflict. Many people say without conflict, there is no story. 

Climax – The biggest, most pivotal point in your novel. This is when your protagonist faced their challenges head-on and either “wins” or “loses.”

Voice – A writer’s voice is the unique narrative of the writing. This is the way in which the author chooses to display sentences and even down to the phrasing they use.

Style – Much like the author’s voice, the style is the unique way the author writes but also encompasses the entirety of the novel and story as well. Their style can mean how they write, but also how they tell a story and the way in which they allow events to unfold.

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