Fiction writing

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This article is about writing fiction prose. For fiction as a concept, see fiction.

Fiction writing consists of fashioning works of prose based on the imagination that could possibly be published in literary form. The end result may be a short story, novel, screenplay, or drama.

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[edit] Habits of the fiction writer

There is no surefire method for producing a good work of fiction. Techniques and habits that work for some writers do not work for others, and the creative process can vary greatly from writer to writer. However, certain habits are generally accepted as constructive and conducive for the fiction writer. To master the creation of fiction, the writer usually incorporates the following habits into his or her daily life:

[edit] Consistent practice

Writing on a consistent basis produces the finished product and improves writing style. Stephen King, a prolific writer of dozens of novels, claims to take no day off when it comes to writing. "The truth is that when I’m writing, I write every day, workaholic dweeb or not. That includes Christmas, the Fourth, and my birthday." He produces ten pages a day, which is an average of 2,000 words. [1] The average writer, however, usually has a full-time job and a more realistic daily amount would be 500-1,000 words. [2]

Talent is important, but it may not be enough. "Most of these folks with so much raw talent will not make it as novelists. Why? Because they lack what’s truly necessary: self-discipline, dogged determination, and stick-to-itiveness." [3] The writer who waits for "the muse" for inspiration may never finish his work. He has to write consistently whether he feels like it or not.

[edit] Voracious reading

"You can’t be a writer if you’re not a reader." [4]. The writer of fiction probably has a specific genre in which he wants to write. Taking several of his favorite novels or short stories in that genre, the writer should read them each two or three times. The first read should be for enjoyment; a second reading of a book could be more critical. In the second reading, the writer should make notes: turning points in the story; introduction of characters; appearances of symbolism.

The fiction writer should attempt to read widely, that is, read not only fiction from the genre in which he prefers to write, but also genres in which he has not explored. If he wants to write a Science Fiction novel, he should read from a genre with which he may not be familiar such as murder mysteries. Reading widely will "help you learn more about writing than anything else you can do for yourself. It will keep your mind active, keep you interested in writing, and help you learn to recognize and fix your mistakes." [5]

The fiction writer should also read books on writing. Some recommended books would be:

[edit] Notebook keeping

Keeping a notebook for jotting down ideas can benefit the writer. A writer’s notebook can be divided into several categories: [6]

  • ideas for character names
  • possible titles for stories
  • observations
  • eavesdropping
  • unfamiliar and unique words

A fiction writer can also keep a section in a writer’s notebook for journal entries, ideas for future stories, character descriptions, and scene or chapter summaries.

[edit] Types of fiction prose

  • Epic: A work of 200,000 words or more.[citation needed]
  • Novel: A work of 60,000 words or more.
  • Novella: A work of at least 17,500 words but under 60,000 words.
  • Novelette: A work of at least 7,500 words but under 17,500 words.
  • Short story: A work of at least 2,000 words but under 7,500 words.
  • Flash fiction: A work of fewer than 2,000 words. (1,000 by some definitions)

[edit] Elements of fiction

Just as a painter uses art elements such as color or line to create a painting, a fiction writer uses the following to create artistic effects in his or her story:

  • theme — a conceptual distillation of the story; what the story is about.
  • character — a participant in the story, usually a person
  • plot — a related series of events revealed in narrative
  • conflict — a character or problem with which the protagonist must contend
  • dialogue — the speech of characters as opposed to the narrator
  • point of view — the perspective of the narrator; usually refers to the voice, first or third person.
  • scene — a piece of the story showing the action of one event
  • setting — the time and place where the action of a story occurs
  • structure — the organization of story elements

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ↑  King, Stephen (2000). On Writing pp. 153–, –154.. Scribner. ISBN 0-684-85352-3.
  2. ↑  Abbott, Jillian (Sep., 2005). "How to keep tabs on your novel’s progress". The Writer, p. 39.
  3. ↑  Frey, James N. (1987). How to Write a Damn Good Novel p. 164.. St. Martin’s Press. ISBN 0-312-01044-3.
  4. ↑  Monteleone, Tom (2004). The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Writing a Novel p. 51.. Scribner. ISBN 1-59257-172-7.
  5. ↑  Leder, Meg, ed. (2002). The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing p. 324.. Writer’s Digest Books. ISBN 1-58297-160-9.
  6. ↑  Stanek, Lou Willett. (1994). So You Want to Write a Novel p. 15. Avon Books. ISBN 0-380-77688-X.

[edit] External links

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