Amanda Pruett

A Focus on Fiction (Essay 1)

            This semester has posed new obstacles for me. I registered for the class in hopes that I would learn how to develop my own fiction piece. Not only have a learned a number of new writing styles, I also enjoyed the class in every aspect. Though poetry presented many writing blocks, I was able to achieve that style and progress to fiction.

            The fiction workshops were extremely helpful when it was time to develop my own piece. Each student offered a different writing style and offered new perspectives to the development of short stories. In addition to the workshops, the reading assignments were useful in our development as well. Each assignment laid out the rules and expectations of fiction writing.

The first important piece I used while writing my short story was the section about the frame story. “The frame story traditionally refers to fiction in which a narrator relates events that occurred previously,” (chapter 18, page 204). I developed my story through a moment during a college graduation and the event of falling which lead the narrator to recall a traumatic childhood.

Upon the completion of my first draft, lack of characterization was obvious due to the common characteristics of what should have been two separate and difference characters. According to chapter 12, “Characterization, the portrayal of fictitious characters, is also significantly different in simple and sophisticated works,” (page 149). Though my goal was to present a sophisticated work, my lack of specific characterization led my story towards a simple category.

Dialogue is another key factor to producing a great writing piece. It is important to use dialogue throughout a fiction story; without it, the narrator must explain what the characters are not. Character dialogue can present the reader with insight that the narrator may not be able portray through simply explaining the character. “You can write a story without dialogue, but successful examples are about as rare as silent films,” (chapter 22, page 238).

Through the class lectures, I have also learned the importance of steering away from the obvious in a fiction piece. You want to present mystery to the reader and keep their attention through suspense. If the work offers the plot in the opening paragraph, there leaves no reason for the reader to continue reading through the story.

We also discussed the “seven deadly sins” of writing and effect it can take on your work. Writing about close family relationships could be easy to write due to the knowledge that the writer already has about the subject; however, too much of this writing style could lead to repetition and exhaustion of the subject.

Overall, this class has presented me many options in writing styles. Due to the reading assignments, I know what is expected of a story and rules that should be followed to help produce a great work. I enjoyed the content of the lectures and workshops as well as the professor and the students. After reviewing last year’s final exam submissions, I agree with Rachel Barton who said, “It’s not every semester that I sign up for a class that I thoroughly enjoy in every way.”