CREATIVE WRITING

Why Should We Write Fiction?

Are you an aspiring writer? You’re not alone

Many people write. As professionals, making a living, writing for money.

Others also write out of necessity, but not necessarily for money. They have to write, they need to write — it’s a style of living.

Others write as a hobby, playing with the sounds, the words, the language. They are having fun writing.

We can choose not to write.

And we can choose to write. Facts or fiction.

Writing both facts and fiction have huge advantages for us, as human beings, and as creative individuals. Writing is — as I see it — in almost every imaginable perspective a healthy activity.

So now — facts, or fiction?

Let’s focus on the latter:

Fiction writing: Why write fiction?

General focus:

Write to put words on our life experiences

Writing — departing from myself, putting words on things I experience, writing about my own person, incidents and relations in my own life — that’s what I find meaningful. — Sometimes, not all the time!

Writing is similar to talking, and yet — most of the time — not.

Talking feels less — shall we say — grave? But both — talking and writing — is about to put words on things we experience.

Talking is the rapid way, writing is often much slower.

Focus on the past:

Write to get rid of…

We can write to take a grip on what’s past, but not finished. Through writing and processing what happened, we can become aware of hidden aspects, both then, when the incident happened, and now, when we sit here and write about it.

Write to remember (a love, a loss, an incident, an episode, a defeat, a victory)

Probably one of the most common reasons why we write. We write to get a clearer image of what happened. Was it my fault? Did I say or do something I should not have said or done?

Write to terminate what happened

It happened, but now it’s over. Let’s get rid of it, let’s terminate the chapter, let’s close that door for good!

Write to understand

I am unhappy with how my life is now. I am not where I wanted to be, not where I wanted to go. So why? Why am I here now? I have to find out. I need to write!

Write to discover

I need to learn about what I went through. Why and what could I have done instead? Can I imagine an alternate story? What did not happen that could have happened?

Write to leave things behind

I’ve made up my mind. What happened is history, it belongs to the past. I’ll write my version, and it’s gonna be the final, authoritative version!

Focus ahead:

Write to master life

I’ll be the new self. I’ll stand up proud and strong. This is me, now!

Write to get on

What happened belongs to the past. Now I focus on the present. And my future.

Write to get along

I need the others too. I want friends, I want someone to love.

Write to survive

Left alone, isolated, depressed. I don’t want this!

I want to live. I want to live my life as it should be. I’ll write it for the beginning.

I’ll think.

I’ll write!

Then I’ll take action!

Write to exist

Through the words, on the screen, I can see that I exist. I am someone. I have ideas, I have feelings, I have anger and — yes, sometimes also joy!

Write to live

Writing, for myself, exclusively, or publishing, I can depict what I was not able to see yesterday. I can write about my life.

Write to love

If I am a lucky guy, I know of someone I can give my love. Is it a love affair at a distance? Is it something that never will be a reality? Doesn’t matter. I can write! I can write stories about where we meet. I can write poems that says what could be.

Write to get over a lost love

A classic writer’s life jacket. Write, write and write.

And write more!

One day, the pain will slowly start to go away.

Write to learn to love again

Dreams are the strongest human mental power. Dreams can move mountains.

Write, and move mountains!

Write to learn to love life again

It’s never too late. It’s never over. Never completely finished.

Write those words.

Then write them again, and again.

Then, much later, I’ll start to think: Oh yeah, life can be good. It’s true.

Write to become strong

I’ll be the one who stands all day alone on the corner of a street, waiting for no-one. Through writing, I can explore what’s difficult, what’s easy, and what’s possible.

I’ll even explore what seems impossible. I’ll make the impossible possible.

Write to become invulnerable

Let’s write! Let’s write what does not seem surmountable. Let’s climb the highest mountain, let’s attack the steepest cliff.

Some say: It’s not possible!

We write: Some say It’s not possible! — but we’ll never give up!

Write to become free!

Did you hear me: Write! Set yourself free!

Dedicated to all of my good writing friends on medium.com, George J. Ziogas, Anthony Moore, Owen R Thornton, Francine Fallara, Agnes Louis, Laura Gulbranson, Steve Spring, Harry J. Stead, Thomas Plummer, Brian Kurian, John Mashni, Craig Weldon, Holly, Jagrit Singh, Greg Prince, Lasith Jayalath, Randy Shingler, Regina Fable, Martine Weber, Maarten van Doorn, Nicole Bianchi, Petra Ivanigova, Chiedza Kikumi, Lisa Spray, Arthur Spragg, Lynne Nardizzi, Helene Heid, Sylvia Wohlfarth, Jesse Wilson, Arthur Spragg, Shaan Sood, Kevin E. Pittack Jr., Adam, Diabetic Cyborg, Danny Forest, VNP, Anna Rozwadowska, Writing River, LB, Shringi Kumari, Niña Traviesa, Jo Ann Harris, Vaishali Paliwal, Ruth Stewart, Vincent V. Triola, Carole P. Roman, Dora Emig, Dana Sanford, Susan Brearley, Cayla Vidmar, Sarah Cy, Ryan Holiday, Darius Foroux, Regina Fable, Carolyn Murray, Mohameth Seck, Toni Koraza, David Beaty, Charlene Fate, Miss Wren, ⭐ Ryan Justin, Elle Rogers, Stephen Sovie, Rusty Alderson, Nikki Tate, Helene Heid, Bridget Webber, Chiedza Kikumi, Lisa Spray, Arthur Spragg.

Thanks!

— Why do you write?

11/2021© Øivind H. Solheim —

Øivind H. Solheim is a novel author and a nature photographer from Norway who loves writing fiction, essays, and articles helping others understand life, other humans, and themselves. He has published five novels, two non-fiction books, and a poetry book.

Visit Øivind H. Solheim’s profile

Support my writing by becoming a Medium member.

Join Medium with my referral link — Øivind H. Solheim

“Make Your Dream Be Your Future​”