Introduction to Fiction Writing

Study Notes

Fiction writing is the act of producing a written work that is derived from the writer's imagination rather than from fact.
Real places, events, or people may inspire fiction writers.
Examples of fiction writing include novels, plays, short stories, and narrative poems.

Writing style is the way in which a writer employs words to convey a story.
It may reflect the writer's verbal identity or be selected to highlight specific aspects of a character, setting, or event.
Writing style can indicate characters' thoughts or emotions, cultural background, educational level, or attitude toward a subject or another character.

Writers can use various fiction styles, such as formal or informal language, archaic language, or journalistic style.
Each style is chosen to suit the topic and can indicate the writer's attitude toward the subject.

Fiction genres include fantasy, mystery, science fiction, romance, and literary fiction.
Fantasy typically includes unrealistic plots with magic or witchcraft and elaborate descriptions.
Mystery stories feature characters who attempt to solve a crime or puzzle and are often written in a journalistic style.
Science fiction includes characters and settings that cannot exist in reality and is often set in the future.
Romance stories focus on romantic interactions between characters and rely heavily on description and characterization.
Literary fiction concerns itself with complex characterization and language.

A writer's choices regarding syntax, diction, dialogue, and dialect contribute to the style of a literary work.
Syntax refers to the way words are arranged in sentences.
Diction refers to word choice and can alter the meaning of a sentence.
Connotation refers to the associations or emotions a word evokes in the reader.
Dialogue reveals characteristics of the speakers or their relationship.
Dialect primarily reveals where a character is from, but may also provide clues about the speaker's social status or occupation.

Writers use figures of speech to help readers understand comparisons, descriptions, and meaning in narratives.
Similes are implied comparisons that use words such as "like" or "as".
Metaphors are comparisons that state a similarity without using "like" or "as".
Imagery is a device used to convey sensory information.
Symbolism uses one object or image to represent another object or emotion.

Ernest Hemingway's terse, journalistic style in The Old Man and the Sea belies the story's ultimate emotional impact.
James Joyce's ornate style in "Araby" uses imagery to depict the sights, sounds, and movement of a busy city.
Writing styles help writers convey complex ideas, images, symbols, and other significant components of literature.