The Technical Aspects Of Fiction Writing

Author: Stephen D. Rogers

Thus far, we've focused on the creative side of writing, the organic nature of ideas spawning ideas. Before you can shape what you've written, you need to write.

Now that you realize you can do this, we'll take a look at some technical aspects that will allow you to improve your craft in order to produce saleable stories.

Point Of View

Should your story be first-person ("I strode into the store.") or third-person ("Sue strode into the store.")? If third person, how much will you dip into the main character's mind? Will you also dip into the minds of other characters? Will you write omnisciently, narrating from a god-like distance?

Some types of stories lend themselves more to first-person, and some to third-person. Both approaches come with strengths and weaknesses, challenges to overcome. If a story grinds to halt, try changing to the other point of view.

The Viewpoint Character

Who is the protagonist, the main character? This is the character with whom the reader usually identifies.

If you start with the concept for a story, and aren't sure who should be the viewpoint character, ask yourself who witnesses the most action. Who will be forced to experience the most growth by the end of the story? Who has the most to lose (the murderer doesn't count)?

Authenticity

As you develop a setting, what level of detail will you include? Does the character stop for a bite to eat, or stop at McDonald's for a bite to eat, or stop at McDonald's for a Big Mac?

Brands can make a setting seem realistic, as long as the reader knows the brands. Generally speaking, bashing a brand is not usually a good idea. As to locations, maybe your characters meet at your favorite local restaurant, but they should trip over the body elsewhere.

Research

Write what you know about, or learn enough to fake it. As much as readers read to learn about new places and sub-cultures, writers often write to do the same. Just don't confuse research with writing and spend all your time collecting thousands of details that will never appear in the story, assuming you ever start.

Whenever you include specific information (the route from here to there, how to change a tire, the recipe for Baked Alaska), make sure you're correct. Whether or not you get your research answers from actual people, have an actual person read the story to make sure you didn't slip up.

The Squeamish Factor

What level of sex do you include? What level of violence? What level of bad language?

The answer depends on whatever you're comfortable writing. Beyond that, the answer depends on the type of story you're writing, and what you want to do with it once you're done. Some publications want none of the above, some want all of the above, and most are somewhere in the middle.

Realize, however, that the three levels are independent. Publication A might want high - low - medium and Publication B might want low - medium - low. It helps to know where you'd like to see the story appear.

Completion

When is a story done?

Have you answered all the major questions you've raised? Has your main character experienced change or otherwise completed the journey? Is your word count suitable for the publications you want to reach? Has the story reached the end of the line?

If all those things are true, the story is done. Almost.