My Conclusions on Being a Fiction Writer

by Terri Wagner
I have shared my struggles about writing with a partner...an ongoing struggle. Even Marsha jumped in and helped out, thanks!!!!!! However, I have come to an amazing conclusion...I loathe writing fiction. I adore reading fiction, I am constantly astonished at how a writer can weave a good fiction story and leave you breathless. I have too many authors I love but top of the lists would include fantasy writers Dave Eddings and Terry Brooks, and adventures with a history twist such as Clive Clussler and Dan Brown. I do not just apply this to books, the whole Star Wars, Star Trek, Lord of the Rings universes are wonderful places to to visit again and again.

However, I am ready to throw in the white flag on writing fiction. I am not that imaginative. Don't misunderstand, I can imagine a lot, but I cannot write imagination. I change my characters too often. I do not have to explain this comment...I have rewritten the opening chapter a dozen times from a dozen different POVs. None of them work. I should know since I read enough to know the good from the bad. I cannot follow my own storyline since I have no idea where I am going with it. I could go on, but you get the picture. This is not negativity. This is called facing reality.

Now hand me a dissertation on any subject, and I can disassemble and reassemble in a way that any layman can pick it up and read it. I have edited a ton of highly technical articles, sat in lectures on space elevators, and wrote about what it all means. But do not ask me to wander into the world of make believe as a writer. I am content to enjoy the intrigue of others. I surrender to fiction. My partner will probably laugh and tell me to write it again. I will say one thing about her criticism, it forces me to stretch my writing ability. But as Dr. Seuss might say, I do not like it, I do not want to do it, I think I shall not do this!