My Respect for Fiction Writers Deepened After I Wrote Fiction Myself
It is tougher than I had imagined
Pointing fingers is often effortless, but being judged is tough.
As a fiction reader, when I was the one dishing out criticism, I realized I never truly grasped the effort and dedication that go into creating something. Only when I began fiction writing did I understand the value of constructive feedback over outright dismissal.
I have more respect for the fiction writers now.
The following are the key reasons why fiction writing is harder than it seems.
1. Characters
Each character that you introduce has to have a different persona. In non-fiction, you are giving your opinion; when you write, you may self in your own words. But if you are writing about Sarah, who is a mean corporate leader, you have to sound mean, unlike your own self 😃.
Additionally, the way they talk has to be consistent across the story. They can’t change their behavior between chapters unless there is a valid reason.
2. Pace
The number of people who read is decreasing by the day. And so, if you want the attention of your audience, you need to keep the right pace. I have read many reviews that talk about the novel getting boring after the first few chapters.
The characters’ build-up should seamlessly integrate within the flow of the story. You cannot take time to just describe the characters.
While some readers do enjoy savoring the prose and don’t mind when authors take their time to develop characters, they represent a small minority.
3. Research
When your story is set in an Indian village, you will have to conduct thorough research on the local environment and surroundings. You cannot have your characters eat at a fancy restaurant.
If your narrative involves a character with an illness, you will have to research to understand what are the symptoms and the potential treatments. For example, you cannot have your character recover from a rib fracture in a week’s time.
For detective-themed stories, you will have to research what legal rights and authorities a detective has in that specific part of the world.
4. Names
I thought naming the characters would be the easiest, but I realized there are many things to consider before deciding on the names.
a) You need to understand that the audience is meeting your characters through your words. The names should reflect their characters.
b) You cannot have 2 characters with similar names For instance, it’s best to avoid having two characters named ‘Mary’ and ‘Maria’ in the same story, as it can be confusing for the readers.
c) And it’s crucial to ensure names are contextually accurate. For instance, you cannot have a character with names like “Aiden” or “Madison” in a story set in the 1970s; it would feel out of place.
5. Dialogues
A narration of what is happening in the story is easy to write. But when it comes to interactions between the characters, a lot of effort is required.
The character’s individuality has to be brought out through the dialogue. Dialogues have to be interesting too.
Fiction writers take into account numerous aspects when crafting their novels. Writing a few short stories has heightened my admiration for their work. I will be more considerate and respectful in my reviews from hereon.