Saturday, April 6, 2013

F IS FOR FICTION




When I chose Fiction as my "F" word, I really wasn't sure what direction I wanted to take this post.  Was it that I always dreamed of writing fiction?  That I grew up reading fiction?  Well, that is kind of a Duh, no?  Most anyone who dreams of writing fiction grows up reading it.  Then I realized that this was another Circle Story.  What's that, you ask?  Seinfeld did it all the time.  The story started off here, and ended there, and it was actually One Big Ole Circle.  Hilarious.  I look at my life and see a lot of Circle Stories.  Yeah, not as funny as Seinfeld.  Moving on...

When I was in high school, and Oh-So-Certain of where I was going in my life, and my "Career Path," yada yada yada, I heard the story for the first time of my mother quitting college because... wait for it... she couldn't decide on a major.  At the time, I thought this was Hilarious (as in actually Laugh Out Loud Funny), and I told the story to anyone who would listen, and then doubled over, and practically rolled on the floor.  Sooooo funny.  How could someone quit because they were Undecided????  What in the name of Jesus was she thinking?  Bwahahahaha.

After one miserable Freshman year, I came to a very sad and unfortunate conclusion: I was wrong.  I was not going to major in Music.  That was not going to be my Career Path.  My Career Path was now this Blank Slate.  I was void.  So, I took a year of Core Classes, certain that something would come to me; I would find my answer.   I did not.  I finished up my Sophomore year with a whimper.  I distinctly recall sitting in my Guidance Counselor's office, and having The Conversation about "What are we going to do now," since Music was off the table, and I had to declare SOMETHING in order to choose my classes for the Fall.  Egads.  It was happening already;  I had turned into my mother.  Karma is a terrible thing.  It was taking it's revenge.  I wasn't laughing now.  I would never even be able to tell The Story again.  "Don't ask for whom the bell tolls.  It tolls for thee."  Well played, John Dunne.  Well played.

I chose English.  I chose my Major based on the fact that I liked to read. I had nothing else.  All I knew was that I wasn't quitting.  You can bet your sweet (fill in the blank) that I read a lot.  I packed that entire major into two years.  I read and read and read some more.  And when I wasn't reading, I was writing.  Good times.

Since then, I have tried my hand at writing fiction.  If you have read this blog for a LONG TIME you will remember the elation of when that process was going well, followed by the crushing angst of the crash and burn.  What happened?  I discovered that I did it wrong.  Turns out writing fiction is like booking a trip.  You absolutely must know where you are going.  Like a bonehead, I had a story fairly well plotted out, but I didn't have my ending all sewn up.  Now I feel like a moron saying it out loud because it seems... well, obvious.  So, I quit writing where I was and jumped to the end.  But, I could never make the two meet.  I don't think the constant migraine did anything to shore up this problem.  Eventually, my excitement for the project was outweighed by my annoyance.  That was when it got shelved. 

Of course, that isn't the first book I have started.  Or the first Idea For An Excellent Novel that has ever burned across my brain.  That is just the one with actual chapters and word count.  That said, I don't fancy myself a Great American Novelist.  I don't have this gift for weaving words together so lyrically that you will cry, though that would be lovely.  I just like to tell a rollicking  fun ride of a story.  Barring that, if you aren't bored out of your mind, I would say it is a win.

Until I muster the will to start again on The Book, this blog is my writing outlet... and I just don't see myself quitting.   Why?  Because it just isn't in me.  Now, that is truth and not fiction.

Fiction Rating: Passion, Phase, and Life Lesson (this one gets the Trifecta)


image found at www.weheartit.com

Are you a fiction or non-fiction reader?  When did the read you become an avid reader?  Have you tried your hand at writing?  If you are a published writer, did you publish the first thing you wrote or did you have several discarded novels lying around before you finally got it "right?"

14 comments:

  1. There's nothing wrong with writing a fun ride. I can't weave words together like a poet either.
    The first full novel I ever wrote sat in a drawer for thirty years. I pulled it out, decided I really liked the characters, and rewrote it. That story became my first published book.
    So if I can do it, anyone can!

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  2. Please don't ever quit! I love your blog and your hilarious sense of humor. And, by the way, my son is now in that stage - "I thought I knew what I wanted to do with my life, but now not so sure" - happens to everyone :)

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  3. Robin
    Why in the world would you want to write fiction when you write about the real stuff with such compelling emotion???? Perhaps you could transfer that emotion to a fictional character and perhaps not. That is the reason I rarely read fiction. Yawn. You can describe what you see from a window and I stay with you. From what you describe, I am able to absorb your emotions and add it to my own. That is what I expect from a book. You naturally have that ability. It flows. Do I think I'm a critic? Nope, just someone who has read, read, read my whole life.

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  4. I know how you feel. I went for three years...then quit. I chose Journalism as a major (because I liked to 'write'), then found that it was about much more than writing.

    Truth be told, though, seeing what's passing for "journalism" today, I'm glad I didn't finish. I'd hate to have to be churning that dreck out.

    Stick to what you know and enjoy. If, for now, that's blogging...it's o.k, I enjoy reading your stuff :)

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  5. Alex ~ Thank you for sharing your story. Good to know that you can shelve a project for a good long time, and tackle that beast again when you are ready!

    Judy ~ My posts went through a stage of Not Very Often when I was seriously not feeling well. You can see two years of that in my sidebar. Now, I am really working at feeling better. Writing often is part of that process. Your son will figure things out.... if by no other way than trying out a bunch of junk jobs that help him narrow his path toward what he wants.

    Manzanita ~ That is a really lovely thing to say. More so, since I know you are not a word mincer or compliment giver if you don't mean it sort of person.

    Mark ~ I hear what you are saying about what has happened to journalism as a medium. It is a bit heartbreaking, no? And, yes, blogging is working for me now. I am glad that I am making a handful of people happy. That is enough:)

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  6. My major in college was political science, and now I'm an English teacher. Go figure.

    I started a book a couple years ago, and I'm probably 80% done. I know the ending too, but I'm stalled. I'll have time this summer, so my plan is to make one more final push to finish. We'll see.

    When I look back through my blog, I realize how much writing I've actually done. It may not be fiction, but I've enjoyed it.

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  7. Hi Robin,

    It seems you have more of a leaning towards writing fiction. I sense some frustration in how your fiction writing will pan out. Yet, having read your posting, I believe there's enough inspiration within this that makes me think you can just let it flow. All parts of your story can intertwine.

    I'm glad you use your blog postings as practice in your writing prowess. Indeed, it can be a most positive resource. Your passion for the written word will continue to motivate you.

    I have no preference for either fiction or non-fiction. Actually, I haven't read much in the way of full books recently. For reasons beyond my comprehension, perhaps it's desperation, but a number of writers, aspiring and published, send me manuscripts and ask for my opinion.

    I write only on my blog. I'm not worried about ever being published, as such. My ideals are to write as a cathartic, therapeutic outlet. Indeed, my hopes are that whoever reads my stuff, can relate, or it gives them comfort in knowing they are not alone.

    Thank you for an excellent and thoughtful posting, Robin.

    In peace and kind wishes,

    Gary

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  8. I too have an English degree, but I ended up a high school English teacher for 5 years. Miss it a lot, but life is weird. You don't really know where you'll end up.

    The first novel I wrote was horrible. I wrote it my sophomore year, and it was such a big fat turd, I burned it. Literally.

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  9. I can totally relate to this post! When I was in college, I majored in journalism. I just knew I was going to be the next Barbara Walters. What I didn't know was that more than journalism I just love to write. I was good at that. I was not, however, good at reporting. So my journalism career tanked before it even got started. I'm still writing, almost daily. I'm still working and tweaking on my short stories and my yet unpublished novel. And I still have hope. You should keep writing. You have a gift and should not let it go to waste Blogging for me, is my life saver. I enjoy reading your blog. You have a knack for it and hopefully, you won't stop sharing it.

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  10. Tim ~ It's funny the direction that life takes you. I hope that you finish that novel. Perhaps Inspiration will hit you Full Tilt this summer and you can really pick up some steam.

    Gary ~ I find the blog writing to be therapy, too. For right now it suits me just fine.

    Jay ~ Life is wierd. I think that maybe those first novels are clunkers. That saying practice makes perfect likely exists for a reason!

    Yvonne ~ You are way too creative for journalism. I can see how that wasn't a good fit at all.

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  11. Fiction is a great choice for the F post. I have read fiction for a long time, always enjoyed reading as a kid/teen. Though I never thought about writing it then. Despite using my imagination to make up games and roles to play all the time, it just didn't cross my mind till later in high school.

    Fiction has taken practice. I don't have anything published yet as I'm just now working on editing, but I have a few novels in the works. I thank in part nanowrimo because while it took 3 attempts to get to a finished product, I can now write a fair amount and have finished 3 different first drafts of novels and that's a good start.

    Good luck to you and your stories.

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  12. Just stopping by from the A-Z Challenge list to say "Hi" :)

    Great post honey. I know that crash and burn feeling only too well.

    Good luck with the rest of the challenge!

    x

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  13. The most interesting people never really know what they want to do with their lives and honestly hardly anyone ever uses their degree to directly affect what they end up doing for work. It's just imperative that you show you can learn and grow... and oh yes, you know how to do that. That is obvious.
    I do love me some fiction. Reality has to make sense. Fiction can go anywhere and yet relate to reality in so many ways. Just my opinion.
    When I was in grade school I felt sure that I would end up living in New York as a writer, and then in college I started out pre-law and then was a dance major. I can't stand New York city and I'll probably never work in the field of law and I had a serious back injury and ended up a Sociology major. You're not the only one who found the whole major thing a challenge! But hey, I think we both graduated on time...

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  14. Dawn ~ 3 drafts of 3 novels is a great start.

    Vikki ~ Hahaha. I think we all have felt it at some time or another.

    Jasmine ~ Well, that is a Relief. If the most interesting people spend a lot of time wandering around in the dark, I must be *fascinating.*

    Now, I know that I didn't know your challenges regarding your majors in school. I did find out something NEW about you!!!

    And, I think we turned out okay:)

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