Five Fiction Facts

Writing fiction is an art based on important principles.  Here are five of them:       

1) Character  comes before plot.

Just as people still argue over the proverbial question, Which comes first? The chicken or the egg?, writers of fiction argue over what comes first, character or plot?

We Christians know that the chicken came first since God directly created the chicken.  The egg, then, comes out of the chicken.  The same is true in the best fiction–the kind of fiction that most impacts lives.  The author creates the character, and the plot then comes out of the character.

Think about the best stories you’ve read.  What comes to mind first–a character or the plot?  Most often, it is a character who remains branded in your memory, long after the plot is forgotten. 

2) Plot evolves out of character.

What your characters do is your story.  Therefore, before you even

begin to write, you must know your characters–what motivates or drives them.  It is out of this knowing that your story (or plot) will emerge and develop.

3) Start your story in the middle of the  conflict.

Think about screenplays or television dramas.  The story always opens in the middle of a conflict or problem.  It is the same in fiction.  Start your story at a point of conflict.  This immediately captures your reader’s interest and draws him into the story.

4) When writing, think of yourself as a camera.

 Stories are not written in words; they are written in pictures.  The mind operates in images, not words.  For example, when I say “house”, do you see the letters h-o-u-s-e, or do you see an image of a house, most likely your own?  The answer is obvious.

5) Remember that people read fiction for entertainment

Don’t preach or moralize.  Your message must be intrinsic to the story, not tacked on.

__________________________________
Bio: Dr. MaryAnn Diorio writes riveting, compelling fiction that deals with the deepest issues of the human heart. Her stories will entertain you, move you, and transform you. MaryAnn has been happily married to Dom for 46 years. They are blessed with two amazing adult daughters, a wonderful son-in-law, and five precious and rambunctious grandchildren. When she is not writing, MaryAnn loves to spend time praising and worshiping the Lord, reading, painting, and playing the piano, cello, and mandolin. You may reach her at drmaryann@maryanndioro.com.

______________________________________________________________________________________________
Copyright 2016 by Dr. MaryAnn Diorio, All Rights Reserved and Protected by International Copyright Law. Violators will be prosecuted.