Hillary A. Roth

09 December 2009

Thoughts on Fiction

This semester of creative writing has deepened my appreciation for works of fiction.  It has been an enjoyable experience to listen and read classmates’ pieces that embraced each of their individuality. The workshops were an excellent tool to gather insight and develop my piece. After the workshop and draft exchange my own fiction submission has developed into something more than I ever could have expected.

            Textbooks extractions from Stephen Minot’s Three Genres combined with class lecture have contributed to an increased knowledge of the development of fiction. Each fiction submission has been created from our thoughts, and the textbook aids us in make it more cohesive. In this excerpt from chapter 12 it discusses motives for writing fiction “Whenever you become involved in creative work, it is worth asking yourself just what aspect of the activity is motivating you. Doing this may help the direction you want to move right from the start.” (Minot 152) To help get started it is important to assess why we are writing; for example, “literary” motive would best describe the majority of the class motivation. We are writing for ourselves and audience (the class), and have little concern with publishing for payment or a larger audience. Yet, some could be classified as “commercial” motive if they knew they intended to market their work and were writing for more than the purpose of the class. “Private” motive would mean we had written for ourselves alone, and with the classroom workshop setting that would not have been possible. The textbook is an excellent source to reflect on when needing assistance in making your fiction piece flow.

            Workshops are of the utmost importance in developing a creative writing piece. The classes’ contribution: on what to add, where to make cuts, punctuation, grammar, and structure allows the writer to see the work through other eyes. It does not matter if your work is praised or slammed you will leave the classroom with new ideas and motivation. This selection from chapter 17 discusses development “When a story first comes to you, it will probably be a mix of personal experience and invention. Let it run through your head like a daydream.” (Minot 196) When starting on a piece let your mind wander, write it out, and then begin. Edit and send it to others for more contributions and thoughts, as we have done in class through workshops and draft exchanges.  Workshops and draft exchanges were vital in the development of my fiction submission.

            My fiction piece “The Last Breath” has transformed into a fully functional short story, post-work shop and draft exchange. This work is one of a hundred pieces that I have written, but is the first that I have let others read and been able to complete. It has developed into something that I never could have imagined and has the ability to grow into something more. This selection from my work is the beginning of an addition I made to the story after the class workshop.

It was still fresh on my mind. The deaths of our parents and that tragic day that forever marked our lives.

We were all home for the holidays, me from college and Chessy from her big city job. It was the night before Christmas Eve. We all decorated the tree and had hot chocolate with shots of Bailey’s. Mom and Dad left to go to a friend’s Christmas party down town.

This is only the introduction into the addition that has been made, but it enhances the story by allowing the audience to see what has happened to the main character’s parents. My intentions were to show rather than tell. I went through the work and made the corrections and additions suggested by classmates. I only added suggestions to the work that I felt helped the piece grow. I did not take all suggestions into account. Also, the textbook and other students’ works influenced the edits I made on my piece post-workshop.

            Fiction writing is a process, and the process often takes up more of your mind and time then the initial piece. During this semester with the assistance of workshops, textbook, draft exchanges, and lecture I was able to complete a short story. Before this course I would write and write, but did not finish anything. This semester has opened my mind and enhanced my fiction; it has also given me the courage to share my works with others.