Narration

Finding theme in literary stories

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“Big Gene” is a story of an African American piano player who changes hatred and bigotry with friendship. How can a story convey impact of such action, action based on the teaching of Martin Luther King? Fiction, structure, drama, purpose, and meaning. Here are excerpts that demonstrate story progression in in-scene storytelling. You can READ FREE OR LISTEN FREE to the story HERE: http://www.storyinliteraryfiction.com/ original-stories-william-h-coles/big-gene/ THE PROTAGONIST. Big Gene had no love for country music. For him it was like chopping firewood. And he didn’t like playing for angry whites. He liked the white guys in the band who cared … Read More…

Seven elements for writing fiction stories

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For writers striving to improve the creation of fictional stories in prose, here are seven essential elements in creating stories. The elements: Prose, Characterization, Plot, Narration, Setting, Imagery, Meaning/purpose. Prose relates to diction, syntax, and voice. The intense poetic elements of lyric prose can be used to pleasing effects for a reader both as a secondary and prime element. For memorable stories, most readers prefer a distinct, often authoritative voice, for narrator and characters. Characterization (creation of a fictional character) is most effective when developed by in scene action predominating over discursive narrative telling and when excellence of other elements … Read More…

The Seven Fundamentals for Writing Fiction Stories

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There are many ways to think about the great writing of great fictional stories. Both readers and writers can benefit by learning seven elements and appreciating the interaction of these elements in an individual story. For the reader, appreciation of authorial skills can be more easily enjoyed and admired, and for writers, learning to determine their strengths and weakness in the creation of the different elements can be valuable to balance story for an effective presentation. Prose Characterization Plot Narration (POV) Setting Imagery Meaning/purpose Prose relates to diction, syntax, and voice. Lyric prose with intense poetic elements can be used … Read More…

Eight Fundamentals for Writing Fiction Stories

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Eight fundamentals for writing fiction stories. Prose Characterization Plot Narration (POV) Setting Imagery Meaning/purpose Drama There are many ways to think about the writing of great fiction stories. Both readers and writers can benefit by thinking of eight fundamentals and appreciating the interaction of the elements in an individual story. For the reader, appreciation of authorial skills can be enhanced and admired, and for writers, learning to determine strengths and weaknesses in the creation of the different elements can be valuable to balance story for an effective presentation. 1. Prose relates to diction, syntax, and voice. Lyric prose with intense … Read More…

Effect of Discursive Narration on Literary Story

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Narration of literary fictional stories today allows wide latitude for authors on technique and style. Traditional, successful, memorable, literary stories depend on strong imaginative characterization, dramatic plots with conflict and resolution, and identifiable purpose for the story being told so some enlightenment occurs about the human condition gleaned from the story presentation. In the past, stories were structured for momentum and engagement, and there was careful attention to story logic and credibility for the story world created. Authors wanted to please readers. Prose was dedicated to accurate use of the language, attention to the advantages of correct grammar within story … Read More…

Advice for Fiction Writers Taking Creative-Writing Workshops

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Many writers attending workshops online and in classroom experience frustration with: 1) quality of teaching; 2) the experience, expertise and accomplishments of the instructors; and 3) the heavy reliance on student critiques delivered mostly unsupervised by instructors. In the main, workshops, both academic and private, will not provide knowledge for students to achieve high levels of storytelling and writing.  And in the difficult skill of storytelling, incompetent instruction can lead a student in unhelpful directions that can derail talent.  Students need to collect knowledge and develop skills and attitudes before attending writers’ workshops, to prevent misdirection for career success and … Read More…

Engaging a Reader in Literary Fiction

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Engaging a reader is crucial for a good writer.  It is a complicated process with different levels of engagement that require different skills and talents.  A story about a truck running through a guardrail and caught so it is suspended above a concrete slab two-hundred feet below, with driver and passenger trapped in the cab and bleeding from wounds, grabs the attention . . . a level of engagement.  There is curiosity about the outcome . . . a level of engagement.  For some readers, there might be fear when imagining the worst outcome . . . also a level … Read More…

The Danger of Overuse of 1ST Person Narrative in Literary Fiction

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Many unsuccessful writers fall into the trap of first person point of view, the path of least resistance that leads to mediocrity in many stories from a failure of the author to form a story in the most pleasurable and significant way.   This is really memoir writing, even when authors believe they are imagining a story, because writers insert themselves into the story to become the first person storytellers. Example 1.  1st person. I was happy that fateful night.  I’d been watching Survivor, turned off the TV, and tiptoed back to the baby’s room.  The door was open.  The moonlight … Read More…