What Is Fiction? Definition, Types & Examples

• Dec 15, 2025
• 7 min read

• Tags: Fiction, Fiction Research, Fiction Writing

If you’ve ever picked up a novel, lost yourself in a movie, or binge-watched a series with characters who feel almost real, you’ve already stepped into the world of fiction. But what exactly is fiction? And why does it play such a big role in our lives, cultures, and imaginations?

This simple guide breaks down the meaning of fiction, its types, examples, and why it continues to be one of humanity’s favourite forms of storytelling.

What Is Fiction?

Fiction is an imaginative narrative that tells a story with invented characters, events, or settings. Fiction is a form of storytelling created from imagination rather than from factual, real-life events.

It includes made-up characters, settings, plots, and worlds, though it can be inspired by real situations. Unlike non-fiction, which presents facts and real events, fiction explores what could happen or what we imagine happening.

Why Is Fiction Important?

We read stories for entertainment, but fiction does much more:

• Helps us understand human emotions
• Allows us to explore different cultures, experiences, and perspectives
• Encourages creativity and imagination
• Provides escape and comfort
• Teaches lessons through metaphor and storytelling

Fiction connects us to what’s deeply human.

Main Features of Fiction

Fiction usually has:

1. Imaginary elements (characters, worlds, events)

Fiction is built on imagination. The people, places, and events do not need to be real, even if they feel realistic.

Examples:

• Characters: A young wizard like Harry Potter, or a talking animal like Stuart Little.
• Worlds: The magical land of Narnia, futuristic cities in sci-fi stories, or an invented village that doesn’t exist in real life.
• Events: Time travel, mythical battles, or a love story between two characters who never existed.

Imaginary elements let writers explore anything they want, from everyday life to completely new universes.

2. A plot (beginning, middle, end)

A plot is simply the sequence of events in a story. It’s the “what happens.”

Most plots follow a structure:

• Beginning: We meet the characters and learn about their world.
• Middle: A problem or challenge appears.
• End: The problem is solved, or the story reaches a conclusion.

Example:

Imagine a story about a girl named Tara who wants to win a painting competition:

• Beginning: Tara loves painting but is shy about showing her work.
• Middle: She decides to enter a competition, practices hard, and faces self-doubt.
• End: She finally participates, learns confidence, and either wins or discovers that courage matters more than winning.

The plot helps the story flow in a meaningful way.

3. Conflict (internal or external)

Conflict is the challenge or problem the characters face. Without conflict, the story feels flat.

There are two types:

Internal Conflict (inside the character)

This is when a character struggles with emotions, fears, or decisions.

Examples:

• A boy is scared of performing on stage but wants to make his parents proud.
• A woman is unsure if she should leave a stable job to follow her passion.
• A student torn between being honest and cheating on an exam.

External Conflict (outside the character)

This is when the character faces obstacles from the world around them.

Examples:

• A hero fighting a villain.
• A family trying to survive during a storm.
• Two friends are arguing and drifting apart.

Conflict gives the story tension and makes the character grow.

4. Themes (love, loss, adventure, identity)

A theme is the deeper message or idea that the story explores. It’s what the story is really about beneath the plot.

Examples of themes:

• Love: A story about two strangers finding connection in unexpected ways.
• Loss: A tale about someone coping with the death of a loved one.
• Adventure: A group of friends going on a quest to find hidden treasure.
• Identity: A teenager trying to understand who they are and where they fit in.

Themes help readers relate to the story and reflect on life.

5. A narrative voice (first-person, third-person, etc.)

The narrative voice is how the story is told. It affects how close we feel to the characters.

a) First-person (“I”)

In the first-person point of view, the character tells the story directly.

Example:

 “I walked into the room and instantly knew something was wrong.”

b) Second-person (“you”) (less common)

In the second-person point of view, the narrator speaks directly to the reader.

Example: 

“You open the door and step into a world you’ve never seen before.”

c) Third-person (“he,” “she,” “they”)

In the third-person point of view, a narrator tells the story from the outside.

Example:

 “Mira looked at the old photo and wondered where time had gone.”

These elements help shape a story that feels meaningful and engaging even when it isn’t real.

Types of Fiction

Fiction covers a huge range of genres. Here are the most popular types:

1. What is Science Fiction?

Science fiction (sci-fi) explores futuristic ideas, advanced technology, space, time travel, or scientific possibilities.

Example: A story about humans living on Mars or robots developing emotions.

2. What is Historical Fiction?

Historical fiction is set in a real time period from the past, but the characters or events can be partly or fully imagined.

Example: A fictional love story set during the Mughal era or World War II.

3. What is Realistic Fiction?

Realistic fiction includes stories that could happen in real life. The characters, settings, and events feel normal and believable.

Example: A novel about a teenage girl dealing with school, friendships, and anxiety.

4. What is Speculative Fiction?

Speculative fiction asks “What if?” and explores worlds or situations that don’t exist in our reality. It includes fantasy, sci-fi, dystopian, and supernatural stories.

Example: What if humans could read each other’s thoughts?

5. What is Literary Fiction?

Literary fiction focuses on deep themes, character growth, and emotional or philosophical meaning rather than fast-paced plots.

Example: A story exploring grief, identity, or relationships in a thoughtful way.

6. What is Pulp Fiction?

Pulp fiction refers to fast, entertaining, dramatic stories, usually crime, mystery, adventure, or horror, originally printed on cheap “pulp” paper.

Example: Detective stories with bold heroes, gangsters, or shocking twists.

7. What is Flash Fiction?

Flash fiction is a very short story, often under 1,000 words, that still has a complete moment or message.

Example: A 300-word story about someone meeting their childhood friend unexpectedly.

8. What is Fan Fiction?

Fan fiction is written by fans using characters or worlds from existing books, movies, or games.

Example: A story where Hermione and Draco from Harry Potter become friends.

9. What is Dystopian Fiction?

Dystopian fiction shows a society that has gone wrong, often controlled, unfair, or futuristic.

Example: A world where every citizen is watched by the government 24/7.

10. What is Contemporary Fiction?

Contemporary fiction is set in the present day and reflects modern life, culture, and issues.

Example: A story about influencers, online dating, or workplace challenges.

11. What is Upmarket Fiction?

Upmarket fiction sits between literary and commercial fiction. It has meaningful themes like literary fiction, but is also engaging and plot-driven like commercial fiction.

Example: The Kite Runner – emotional, deep, but easy to read.

12. What is Gothic Fiction?

Gothic fiction mixes mystery, dark atmosphere, fear, and sometimes supernatural elements.

Example: A haunted mansion, a family curse, or a lonely castle with secrets.

13. What is Fiction in Literature?

Fiction in literature simply means stories created from imagination rather than real events. It includes novels, short stories, and novellas.

Example: Alice in Wonderland, The Alchemist, The Hobbit.

14. What is Commercial Fiction?

Commercial fiction is written for wide mainstream appeal. It’s fast-paced, easy to read, and often genre-based (romance, thriller, mystery, fantasy).

Example: A page-turning thriller about a missing person.

15. What is Split Fiction?

Split fiction usually refers to stories told through two or more alternating timelines, narrators, or perspectives.

Example: A novel where one chapter follows a woman in 2025 and the next chapter follows her grandmother in the 1970s, and their stories connect.

Examples of Fiction

To understand fiction better, here are simple examples:

1. Harry Potter – Fantasy fiction

Harry Potter is a fantasy fiction because it takes place in a magical world that doesn’t exist in real life. The story has wizards, spells, magical creatures, and a school called Hogwarts. None of these things is real, but they feel believable within the story. Fantasy fiction lets readers escape into an imaginative world full of wonder and adventure.

2. Sherlock Holmes – Detective fiction

The Sherlock Holmes stories follow a brilliant detective who solves tricky mysteries using logic, clues, and sharp observation. Detective fiction focuses on crime, secrets, and uncovering the truth. We follow Sherlock and his friend Dr. Watson as they investigate unusual cases. The excitement comes from guessing “who did it” and how the mystery will be solved.

3. Pride and Prejudice – Romantic fiction

Pride and Prejudice is a classic romance story about love, misunderstandings, and relationships. It follows Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy as they gradually overcome their pride, assumptions, and differences. Romantic fiction focuses on emotions, attraction, and how two people come together despite obstacles. It’s relatable because it deals with real feelings and human behavior.

4. 1984 –  Dystopian fiction

1984 is dystopian fiction because it shows a dark, controlled, and frightening version of the future. In the story, the government watches everyone, controls information, and limits freedom. Dystopian fiction warns us about what can go wrong in society if power is misused. These stories make us think about freedom, truth, and human rights.

5. The Avengers – Superhero fiction

The Avengers is superhero fiction because it features characters with special powers, extraordinary abilities, or advanced technology. These heroes work together to fight threats and save the world. Superhero fiction blends action, adventure, and imagination. It’s exciting because it mixes human emotions with larger-than-life battles and heroic moments.

All of them are invented worlds, but they resonate because they explore real emotions.

Fiction vs Non-Fiction (Key Differences)

Both are valuable, but they serve different purposes.

Fiction is the art of storytelling built on imagination.

It spans genres, cultures, and eras, serving as both entertainment and emotional insight. Be it a novel or a movie, fiction is a gateway into worlds that help you better understand your own.

If you’re a writer and have written your own piece of fiction, PaperTrue is here to help you. Our expert self-publishing services will help you publish your fiction and make your writing shine!

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Tanvi

With a foundation in Life Sciences, Tanvi enjoys curating technical writing tips tailored for ESL students. When she's not translating complex concepts into bite-sized nuggets, she can be found playing with dogs or painting landscapes.