In the past week alone we’ve seen how the structure and narrative of life gives story. The elements are there: drama, conflict, character, plot, exposition, arc, resolution. Even the analysis and critique by the media as well as individuals having both opinion and insight.
My question of one of the speakers at yesterday’s writers festival was based upon his publishing a book of his experiences, followed by two novels which were of like content, that is, adventure drama. How does a writer make the transition from reality to fiction?
Aside from the fact that all fiction–even sci fi–has a first floor of experience and takes off from there to ascend into the sky, I think that on a daily basis each and every one of us makes the transition to a small degree.
How? Embellishment. The day was not simply overcast; it becomes stormy and threatening. Do we ever describe a day as one would a weather report: partly sunny with some clouds moving in. Was the mean man at the counter 5′ 7" or was he a more intimidating 6′ 3"? Even as we seek to speak the truth, we don’t know it: he was around 30-ish may in fact appear to be 40 to a teenager. Perception (one of my favorite things to explore).
The line is likely most clearly drawn when in writing non-fiction, the facts can be checked. In fiction, where you don’t want any lawsuits.
By the way, have you ever wondered why Fiction is a main genre, and yet reality becomes simply Non-fiction?
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