A fictional story is a narrative that is not based on real events. Novels, myths, fables, and tales are all types of fictional stories. A NOVEL is a long work of fiction, usually in prose form, that is typically published as a book. A MYTH is a traditional story that explains the beliefs of a people or culture, often involving gods or supernatural beings. A FABLE is a short story that typically features animals as characters and has a moral lesson at the end. A TALE is a story, usually involving magical or extraordinary events.