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Cohesion in Fiction--A Place for Everything, and Everything in Its Place


Yellow, blue, and purple puzzle pieces with words on a pink background

What is cohesion? Simply put, it is a single, well-thought-out plan for your story. Cohesion is the equivalent of tidying up your fictional world. What’s that sock doing on the floor? What’s that character doing in that scene? If you’re inviting guests over, you’ll need a place for everything and everything in its place. 


Image of a woman with a modified caption of "This one does not help the plot"

Cohesion is about asking why and how. Why does this character exist? Why are we in this setting? Why am I writing in this tone? How do these elements improve the story I am writing? If the answer is they don’t then it’s time to be heartless and kill those darlings. 

Cohesion of Language

The cohesion of language in your story is the most concrete form of cohesion, which means it is probably the easiest! What do I mean when I say cohesion of language? 


A Plan for Point of View: 

  • Why are you writing in this point of view? How does first person fit this story? Would third person be better? 

  • Why does your point of view change? Some writers opt for a revolving POV, where there are multiple narrators. If your point of view changes throughout your work, why did you write these chapters in this point of view? How does it help your story? 


A Plan for Tone: 

Why is your story written in this tone? Having a romance novel with a dark and dreary tone doesn’t sound quite right, but maybe you have a reason for it? 

Cohesion of Details

One of the easiest traps to fall into with cohesion is the small details. 


A Plan for Character Details: 

Let's say you are writing a scene where one character happens to mention they hate bananas. Why? Now, asking a living person why they hate bananas is fruitless (haha, get it? Fruit-less?) But when it comes to fictional characters, there should be a reason for everything. Why?


Many readers are detail freaks; they don’t forget. They might take a detail like hating bananas and wait for the scene where your character is presented with a banana and must refuse. Chekov’s Banana, if you will. If it’s never brought up again, than why bring it up at all? 


GIF of person in a banana suit walking with an umbrella falls to the ground

A Plan for Setting Details:

Why is your setting a frozen wasteland? If they live in a snowy tundra, then they better plan around the cold when they set off on their adventure. Whether it’s symbolic or a plot device, there needs to be a reason for the weather. If the weather means nothing, don’t describe it.


Having reasons behind these details is helpful. Not only does it make it easier to remember, but it also creates a richer environment for your reader to enjoy. 


GIF of black and white cartoon cat in the rain

Cohesion of Plot

Cohesion of plot is probably the most important type of cohesion. Beyond the obvious fact that the beginning of a story should connect to the end through foreshadowing, there are many plot-related areas where you should think about cohesion.


Multiple Plot Lines

Many stories have A plots and B plots, so it is important that they connect. Why put these two plots together? How do these stories benefit or hinder one another? 


Character Development

Why did this character change? Everyone loves a good redemption arc, but is it always necessary? Confront your personal preferences and decide what development makes sense in terms of your story. Yes, these characters could fall in love, but how will that relationship add to the story?

Why Is Cohesion So Important?

Cohesion is what makes or breaks a story. Readers will fall in love with your characters, settings, and language. They want it all to have meaning. Having a place for everything and everything in its place is rewarding and interesting. You want readers to have their love for your characters pay off at the end. For each little detail to have a purpose. 


It is important to remember that the only “wrong” answer to any of these why and how questions is “I don’t know.” There are hundreds of “correct” ways to write a story. The important thing is to have a plan. Maybe you love this character, but he doesn’t fit into this scene.


It’s the same thing as being very proud of this portrait you painted and putting it in the shower. No one is going to appreciate the painting; they’re just going to ask why it’s in the shower. Every character, setting, or point of view must have a purpose if the audience is going to enjoy it as much as you do.


About the Author

Susan Matteucci is currently a college student working towards her BFA in creative writing with a publishing minor. She enjoys sci-fi and fantasy and believes separating fiction from the real world is the best way to comment on it. She loves getting into the nitty gritty details of a story.

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