Fiction - Story or Narrative?
Some writers have their main characters simply observe what occurs around them.
Their writing may have great characterization and descriptions, but plot and conflict are missing.
Watching, in and of itself, is fine, but all observations need to be only as much needed to more the plot forward.
In fact, we as writers, need to observe and use our observations to make our writing believable, motivated, and real.
The problem comes when an author "writes" a story that isn't a story, but a narrative.
A story (whether short story or novel) requires conflict, plot, climax, setting, dialogue, characters, and resolution.
Joshua Henkin (The Writer, January 2008) says, "It's bad for a writer to conflict-averse, at least on the page, because conflict is what makes for tension in stories, what pushes fiction forward and informs character.
" How true, without conflict (and plot) what is left on the page is a narrative, an essay or slice of life observation.
Henkin uses the example of The Four Questions from a Passover Seder: "Why is this night different from all others?" The religious answer is it is what makes Passover Passover.
Using urgency and tension (a result of conflict) causes fiction to be fiction.
Often "literary writers" ridicule what they call hack writers.
Yet, these so-called hack writers do what all fiction writers should do: tell a story.
Part of being a real writer is the ability to entertain readers and to weave a story that brings the reader into it.
Using a plot with conflict isn't some commercialized ploy to earn money; although, most writers want to earn money with their work.
Creating a full story, showing the reader what unfolds as the plot moves forward through conflict to the climax and finally resolution, is good writing, and not always easy.
When writing has no motive, no movement of plot, readers may read the material but then wonder, "So?" A good writer makes the reader care about what happens and about the characters involved.
A narrative has its place in the writing field, whether an observation of happenings or a slice of life, but fiction deserves more; well-written fiction needs a good story.
Their writing may have great characterization and descriptions, but plot and conflict are missing.
Watching, in and of itself, is fine, but all observations need to be only as much needed to more the plot forward.
In fact, we as writers, need to observe and use our observations to make our writing believable, motivated, and real.
The problem comes when an author "writes" a story that isn't a story, but a narrative.
A story (whether short story or novel) requires conflict, plot, climax, setting, dialogue, characters, and resolution.
Joshua Henkin (The Writer, January 2008) says, "It's bad for a writer to conflict-averse, at least on the page, because conflict is what makes for tension in stories, what pushes fiction forward and informs character.
" How true, without conflict (and plot) what is left on the page is a narrative, an essay or slice of life observation.
Henkin uses the example of The Four Questions from a Passover Seder: "Why is this night different from all others?" The religious answer is it is what makes Passover Passover.
Using urgency and tension (a result of conflict) causes fiction to be fiction.
Often "literary writers" ridicule what they call hack writers.
Yet, these so-called hack writers do what all fiction writers should do: tell a story.
Part of being a real writer is the ability to entertain readers and to weave a story that brings the reader into it.
Using a plot with conflict isn't some commercialized ploy to earn money; although, most writers want to earn money with their work.
Creating a full story, showing the reader what unfolds as the plot moves forward through conflict to the climax and finally resolution, is good writing, and not always easy.
When writing has no motive, no movement of plot, readers may read the material but then wonder, "So?" A good writer makes the reader care about what happens and about the characters involved.
A narrative has its place in the writing field, whether an observation of happenings or a slice of life, but fiction deserves more; well-written fiction needs a good story.
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