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Behind The Fiction, Past
A Fiction Column
By Michael G'Francisco


FICTION: HOW IS FICTION CREATED and IS IT A REALITY?

An idea, thought or a dream can bring to the imagination the creation of a false reality. There is no limit to what the mind can invent that can become a main plot or a story line. The enhancement of an idea, picture, or dream can excite one’s imagination without destroying the integrity of reality.

Some of the sources that can be used in the creation of fiction are innovative ideas on subjects, such as: personal life experiences, newspaper articles, dreams or even photographs. Fiction amounts to letting your imagination wander into the unknown.

The seed of any fiction article, book or movie must be developed with a beginning, middle and end. What one’s creative imagination does with these portions rests deeply in the mind of the writer.

A good point to remember in using reality is “Don’t stick too close to what really happened”. Expand on whatever theme or story plot you have developed.

Always take time to convey to the reader a conflict, which could involve a twist and turn of false clues or misleading directions in a particular plot. This is especially true in “whodunits”.

Science fiction allows a writer to use any real property or thing on this planet to create unreal fiction. A good example is the work of Steven King.

A story’s plot consisting of numerous sequences of events can be interjected as a play back scene or as a possible future project trauma. Again, a writer is the host and can choose wherever he or she wishes to lead the reader.

Motivation and passion on the part of a writer are the absolute keys to having an interesting or gut jerking story. Desire and being a prolific writer is what makes a great novelist. Dedication to one’s profession can only result (in time) to becoming a successful writer. Now, whether one makes the big bucks, well that’s a different story. A dedicated writer must be able to take and mentally overcome rejections from agents and publishers to become a best selling author.

Whether it’s fiction or nonfiction, a writer should do extensive research on the subject they have chosen. Once a writer has sufficient knowledge on the article or book subject there is no end to the subjective possibilities of telling or describing events and situations in a story plot.

It has been said that reading or viewing (movies) fiction is good for the general public. I guess this can be proven by the hundreds of science fiction and horror books and movies that are produced each year. I personally find this a little hard to swallow, so at this point, let me get to the serious side of fiction.

Aristotle believed that the epics of Homer (Was there only one?) and the tragedies of Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides were pure fiction. History, as Aristotle argued, tells us only what has happened, whereas fiction denotes what can happen.

Many intellects believe that fiction is not only enjoyable, but it also enhances our abilities to empathize with other people and connect with something larger than ourselves. By perception, most people think fiction is something untrue. This thought is subjective and can be paradoxical.

The word “FICTION” is derived from the Latin “FINGERE”, to make, as something made. In essence, to some, fiction is about projecting ourselves in extraordinary situations and extraterrestrial worlds.

Fiction is in its truest sense a simulation of the mind. This can happen on two levels.

The first level involves the mind’s simulation about other people, which is to say or relate what they are thinking and feeling.

The second level involves what happens when people get together and react to a combination of social forces.

We could take a step into the beyond and prod the question: Can fiction change one’s social habits? Yes. In some cases, people who extensively read various categories of fiction, regardless of what genre it is, can become affected emotionally with personality changes. (Example: the various vampire cults).

Usually this type of reader is obsessed and wants to hide in another’s personality or just wants to live mentally, for a brief time, in another’s persona, and possibly in another period in time. They can and do experience empathy with a Protagonist, Antagonist or a Foil (a character who provides a contrast to the protagonist).

Now, I would like to express my believe of what fiction represents in all of it weirdness.

Let’s consider that fiction is an art form and all art forms help us to transcend ourselves.

Fiction in its literary art form consists of: The element of plot, characterization, point of view, conflict, foreshadowing, irony, tone and mood, symbolism, setting, theme and imaginary or figurative language.

To fully understand each of these terms google: Literary Elements.

It’s perceived that there are four types of fiction:

Realistic fiction, Non-Realistic Fiction, Non-Fiction and Semi-Fiction.

Realistic Fiction describes events that could have happened, which in most cases, uses places that are real. It appears to the reader that something is actually happening.

Non-realistic Fiction deals with the impossibility of the plot really happening in life. These types of novel mainly deal with the supernatural.

Non-Fiction represents an event or account of something, which is presumed to be fact. It can be based on truth, but not be accurate.

Semi-Fiction is a fictionalized account of something true and, in most cases, is based on a true story.

Conclusion: Is fiction a reality?

 


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