What is a "wrap story"

[Jewel101]

Does anyone here know what a "wrap story" is? I have no idea, neither do my friends know, one of which is trying to find out since an editor recently called his work a wrap story. Please, does anyone know?:confused:

[Jamesaritchie]

Does anyone here know what a "wrap story" is? I have no idea, neither do my friends know, one of which is trying to find out since an editor recently called his work a wrap story. Please, does anyone know?:confused:

In newspaper parlance, a "Wrap story" is one that wraps up all the loose ends and finishes an ongoing series or anything with several parts.

Warning, do not take the following as gospel. Once upon a time, in a literary theory class some two decades ago, I did hear the term "wrap story" applied to fiction. This may not be at all what the editor meant, but since it's the only time I've heard that exact phrase used, I'll throw it out for what it's worth.

In that class, we were taught that a story is a wrap story when the story is wrapped around the problems, rather than having the problems generate the story. In other words, the story is simply an excuse for whatever problems occur, and primarily for the climax of the story.

Put simply, the writer has A, B, and/or C happen not because they should be part of the story, not because it's the best way for the story to go, not because A, B, and C are realistic or true to character, but only so D can happen.

A, B, and/or C may be anything from the story's conflict, to a line of dialogue, to something a character does. D is either the reaction to one of these things, or the climax of the story itself. You can have a wrap line, a wrap scene, or a wrap story. When the whole story is a wrap, then D is the climax.

The professor sometimes used jokes to illustrate this.

One time, after a particularly difficult case, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson went on a camping trip to get away from it all.

At about three in the morning, Holmes awoke Watson and said, "Watson, look up into the sky and tell me what you see."

"I see millions and millions of stars, Holmes."

"Yes, I know, my dear Watson, but what does that tell you?"

"Hmm, well, in terms of astronomy, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. And, ah, in terms of theology, it tells me that God is great and that we are small and insignificant. And, let's see, in terms of meteorology, it tells me that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. What does it tell you, Holmes?"

"It tells me, my dear Watson, that someone stole our tent."

In real life, it's highly unlikely someone would or could steal your tent while you were sleeping in it. And if they did manage to steal your tent, it's quite unlikely you would react in this manner. Everything happens as it does just so the last line can be used. The entire story is wrapped around the last line.

As I said, I haven't heard the term "Wrap story" used outside of newspaper parlance in two decades, so it's possible the editor meant something completely different. It might not hurt to have your friend drop a polite note to the editor. Just have him say he's a new writer, struggling hard to learn, and would appreciate knowing what the editor meant by "wrap story."

[Note On]

Just have him say he's a new writer, struggling hard to learn, and would appreciate knowing what the editor meant by "wrap story."

And once he finds out, don't assume anyone else will know what it means. I've never heard anyone use the term.

[Steve 211]

An editor recently called his work a wrap story.

Are you sure he didn't say crap? :D

Sorry, Watson made me do it.

[Jamesaritchie]

Okay, I kept thinking about this, and it ossurred to me that there is another kind of story that's sometimes referred to as a "wrap story." It goes along more with what a wrap story is in journalism.

In journalism, a "wrap story" is sometimes a short piece that's just a summation of what has gone before. It sums up what the rest of the program has been about.

In fiction, a wrap story can be a story where the climax is really the whole story, and all the events of the story are written as a summation without detail. The story itself is just a quick telling of events. This happened, then this happened, then that happened, and now this is the result.

But while "wrap story" is a common term in journalism and nonfiction, it is not at all a common term in fiction. Unless my memory really is going, these are the only two instances where I've heard "wrap story" used in fiction. I'm grasping at straws, but this might be more what the editor meant.

[jules]

I've also heard "wrap story" used as a synonym for what is more usually called a "framing story" -- e.g., the story of the narrator of the main story at the time it is being narrated. The bits with the journalist in Interview with the Vampire, for instance, or the bits at the start of some of the chapters in Robin Hobb's Farseer trilogy where Fitz is talking about his feelings as he writes his story.