I don’t know if anyone is actually
reading this, but I really hope they are. I feel I have some great stuff to
share and I hope I’m not being read as too arrogant. But let’s move on.
Why do we write fiction? I think
there are many reasons, but one pertains to the fact that when we write
fiction we get to create the world of our choice. This is one reason. As a
writer, I always throw in a part of me in everything I write and I will do the
same here. Though, I may be more throwing myself out into the slaughterhouse.
But hey, writers are weird; we express our emotions. Enough jabber, here I go:
In Creative Writing right now, the
class has been assigned to read short stories of our peers in our group. So
far, I haven’t found anything that I consider to be “bad writing,” though, I do
believe that all writing is good anyway. The point is, I’ve read a few where
people throw love into the story. Love is a prominent issue and is probably
addressed in every story. Though, I could be wrong. Remember the Einstein
quote:
“No amount of experimentation can
ever prove me right; a single experiment can prove me wrong.”
Anyway, what’s my point here? My
point is, we all think of love whether we have it or not. In this sense, I’m
talking about passionate relationships between a boy and a girl, or a boy and a
boy, or a girl and a girl. I’m not going to get into transgenders. I’m not
talking about love for your parents or friends. Though, love is important in
all aspects. I’m not focusing on what you may call “family love” or “friend
love.” I guess you could call this love “sexual attraction” - attraction to the
opposite or same sex. If we have this love, well, as a writer, we may
write about our loved ones. If not, we may write about our wish to be with “the
one.” Petrarchan poems are all about the longing for the one you can’t have,
but I’m not really addressing that. I’m more thinking about “dreaming” about
that one who you haven’t met yet. Think of the Michael Bublé song: “Haven’t Met
You Yet.” Is that Petrarchan? I don’t believe so.
In creating these stories, you get
to decide what occurs. If you feel very negative, you may write a very negative
end. If the story’s hopeful, well, it would be filled with hope. The feelings
you express can affect the writing or the exact opposite. I find that when I
read these love stories, so far the ones I’ve read, they end happy. But,
sometimes it seems so easy. Within a story, it is. But it’s harder in real
life. I think time and time again about “the one,” and I always wonder if I’ll ever find them. I don’t think
about physical characteristics. I think more of just having fun and enjoying
their company. Alright, you want me to really throw myself out there? I
envision a slim body, but not unhealthy. Nothing cruel, I assure you. Ask me
more questions and you’ll be dead. Well, not really.
I guess the real title for this
article/curious essay is Why Do We Write Love Stories?
I believe it has to do with your
feelings. I think, in order to write a great love story, we have to be playing
the feelings we actually have; if we want to bring in that affection from the
reader, that is. I relate to more teenage novels/young adult fiction because
the characters are closer to my age. Not that those younger or older characters
don’t seem real, they do, but I can’t relate to them as well. It’s what makes a
good book: reaching your audience. Everyone can read it, but if you really want
to capture the reader you’ve got to find a connection within the writing. With
love, it could be heart-wrenching or very sweet. But if it’s bland, no one will
feel connected. And I think readers can usually tell if the emotions in the
story are fake, unless you’re very good at conveying the opposite. For that, I
congratulate you. You can join T.S. Eliot. He believed that poetry should be
written through characters not feelings. He creates characters and they have no
relation to him whatsoever. Maybe not directly, but maybe there’s more
meaning. I don’ t know and can’t exactly ask him. What am I getting at
here? With fiction, you are constructing a fake reality, but in order to get
readers involved, it has to contain realism. I’m not writing that fantasy
should be scrapped, I’m saying that the characters need to be three
dimensional.
But, what’s the main reason we write
fiction?
To tell a story and share our ideas.
And above all, to be creative.
Guest Blogger Bio
Andy Ruffett is a writer who lives in Toronto (Ontario, Canada). He is getting a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of British Columbia. His focus is Creative Writing. In high school, he was lead editor at the school newspaper. He is a proficient editor and writer, and you can connect with him on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter or his blog.
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