ArticlesBase.com - Free Articles Directory
Free Online Articles Directory
07.10.2008 Sign In Register Hello Guest
Email:
Password:
Remember Me 
forgot your password?


Can You Write Fiction?

Author: Linda A Lavid Author Ranking Blue | Posted: 01-06-2008 | Comments: 0 | Views: 14 | Rating:  (51) Article Popularity - Blue (?) Got a Question? Ask.
Sign Up Now!

There are several aspects to writing fiction. Rendering what John Gardner in The Art of Fiction describes as a ‘vivid and continuous dream’ is a complicated affair. Story is created from the imagination of a writer, who in turn must translate it onto a page of symbols so that another person can read, absorb, and experience the story in a similar fashion. It’s a remarkable process when you think about it. So, are you up for the challenge or is the writer’s quintessential question nipping away inside: Do I have the talent?

We imagine talent as some huge reservoir of subconscious knowledge that some lucky people are born with. We think of Shakespeare and Mozart and Einstein. But the truth is we all have talents of many kinds and measures. Think of your family and friends, and assuredly you can name many of their strengths unique to them. Talent is nothing more, or less, than an individual ability. And while there are gifted writers, I do not believe that having an innate talent is imperative to become an author.

Fiction demands a working knowledge of many points of craft. And while mastering craft can be daunting, each one of us has skills to meet the challenge. If you have an analytical mind, cause and effect will be solid. If you are intuitive, your story will take imaginative twists. If you are emotional, you will have a true internal compass to tell a riveting story. If you are a global thinker, you will see the whole. If you are a detail person, your story will be tight. If you are a visual, auditory, or tactile person, your story will be vivid. If you are curious, writing will never bore you. If you are empathic, your characters will be believable. If you’re old, you’ll bring a wide array of experience into the process. If you’re young, your story will be fresh. If you’re stubborn and relentless, your story, at last, will be finished. So what’s your talent? Most likely you have many, some not even touched upon.

Before going further, I propose that writing can be both taught and learned. I also submit that the quality you need most is neither talent nor knowledge but the mad, unrelenting desire to tell a story.

And with this passion, walk to the end of the diving board, loosen your shoulders, and take the plunge.

 

Linda's Website

Linda is the author of Composition: A Fiction Writer's Guide for the 21st Century  Download for $3.75

Rate this Article: Current: 0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s).

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/fiction-articles/can-you-write-fiction-434426.html

Print this Article Print article   Email to a Friend Send to friend   Publish this Article on your Website Publish this Article   Send Author Feedback Author feedback  
Linda A LavidAbout the Author:

Linda Lavid is an award-winning author of fiction and nonfiction. Her latest book is Composition, A Fiction Writer's Guide for the 21st Century. Reviewed as a "priceless gem", this book discusses the craft of writing fiction and the art of self-publishing. Linda's Website

Submitting articles has become one of the most popular means of generating quality backlinks and targeted traffic to your website. Join us today - It's Free!

Article Comments

Comment on this article Comment on this article
Your Name
Your Email:
Comment Body
Enter Validation Code: Captcha


Got a Question? Ask.

Ask the community a question about this article:

Frequently Asked Questions

Has the book Peeps by Scott Westerfeld won any ...
By: SPORTEECHIK93 | 05-08-2008
Has the book Peeps by Scott Westerfeld won any awards? Has Scott Westerfeld won any awards?

Hi, I can typed in Chinese characters on Adobe ...
By: tkng | 04-08-2008
Hi, I can typed in Chinese characters on Adobe. But the chinese characters disappeared the moment I moved to another section. What's the problem? Thanks.

How is caris releated to tom builder? In the novel ...
By: Drake | 25-07-2008
How is caris releated to tom builder? In the novel world without end.      

Words for the song going home
By: go k | 23-07-2008
Please send me the words for the song  "going home". Its a great song.   Thank you

Government development grants
By: Rachel | 23-07-2008
government help for career development grants for young adults  

Please let me know when old home day is this year ...
By: Sandy B | 23-07-2008
please let me know when old home day is this year... Usually around the 9th or 10th I think.  Want to bring the grandkids

Q&A Powered by:
Powered by Yedda 

Latest Fiction Articles

Teach Creative Writing With These 5 Steps
By: Zacharias Allred | 04/10/2008
Teaching creative writing to children is fun and rewarding. Kids naturally love to here stories read to them. As parents many times our children fall to sleep while being read to. Teachers can build a stimulating creative writing program in the classroom by giving the children a desire to write. Here are 5 steps to start a creative writing program.

Twist the Ending
By: Deborah Owen | 01/10/2008
Never let the reader predict your story. Twist that ending, and then twist it again. Read this to see how.

Developing Your Style
By: Deborah Owen | 01/10/2008
All writers have style, but what is it? How is it developed? Can it be changed? Read the answers to all these questions and more – inside.

How Shall I Begin?
By: Patrika Vaughn | 30/09/2008
Having trouble starting off your story? Get some tips to creating a better story.

Teen Recently Publishes New Horror Novel
By: David Patrick | 30/09/2008
An eighteen-year-old graduate of Bethlehem High School publishes his first novel about the war waged between vampires and humans.

A Guide to Medieval Weapons for Fantasy Writers
By: Will Kalif | 25/09/2008
If you write fantasy or are thinking about writing fantasy you probably are going to have medieval weapons in your created world. Today’s reader of fantasy is very savvy when it comes to weapons and armor and you want your writing to be accurate and to make sense when it comes to weapons. They are often a big part of the story. In this article I explain some important things about medieval weapons, how to get them right, and I look at some of the more popular types of weapons.

The Opossum That Came to Visit (a Title) by Peter Menkin
By: Peter Menkin | 20/09/2008
Prose poem child's story, this not so long tale about an opossum that lives under the back deck of a house in San Rafael, California USA (near Dominican University) is based on an opossum sighting. Written by the aspiring poet Peter Menkin, and read in his voice, the not so long tale begins: Tilde was a girl opossum who lived under the back porch of the house

Lead Life to the Full Brim
By: Shubha Jadhav | 19/09/2008
Leading life with a difference! and a difference with a positive attitude is all that it matters. Happy Living!

More from Linda A Lavid

Why Publication Format Matters
By: Linda A Lavid | 28/09/2008 | Self Publishing
Delineates the importance of the appearance, price, production and manufacturing of a self published book and what to look for when deciding on subsidy publisher.

Writer’s Group Guidelines
By: Linda A Lavid | 31/08/2008 | Publishing
Joining a writer's group can help hone your writing skills and keep you writing. If a group can't be found in your locality, consider starting one. This articles discusses how to start and run a writer's group.

How to Keep Writing
By: Linda A Lavid | 28/08/2008 | Fiction
Three tips to keep writing, stay on track, and produce copy.

E-books, Boom or Bust?
By: Linda A Lavid | 15/07/2008 | Publishing
Article on the future of e-books. What are the obstacles in having e-books sell? What are companies doing and how are the readers responding?

Amazon's Wide Reach
By: Linda A Lavid | 10/07/2008 | Publishing
Amazon is making moves to take over every aspect of the independent publishing POD market, including publishing, distribution, marketing and selling. Monopoly or Fair Play?

Is There Money in Self Publishing?
By: Linda A Lavid | 19/06/2008 | Publishing
A position that discusses the advantages of self publishing and how money can be made.

Getting Your Book Reviewed
By: Linda A Lavid | 07/06/2008 | Publishing
Having your book reviewed is important for marketing purposes: reviews sell books. Books can be reviewed before publication or afterwards. While not all reviews may be stellar, getting good reviews can pay off in sales.

The Print-on-demand Contract
By: Linda A Lavid | 05/02/2008 | Self Publishing
A summary of what to look for in a contract when you choose to self publish. Terms are explained and examples given. Contracts vary greatly and it is important to understand the differences.

Article Categories






Give Feedback

Sign up for our email newsletter

Receive updates, enter your email below