The Role of Fiction in Portraying Ideas that Impact Us All

By Gen LaGreca

Are there great novels, short stories, plays, and feature films that thrilled you, shocked you, gave you moments of nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat suspense, or that got you thinking about important issues? Did you ever wonder about the power of fiction to inform and inspire us.

News stories, text books, essays, articles, white papers, and nonfiction books give us a straight-forward account of factual issues, whereas works of fiction tell us a story. Fiction comes from the imagination filled with adventure, excitement, romance, intrigue, suspense, and the full gamut of emotions.

Nonfiction or Fiction? Which do you remember more? 

The difference between nonfiction and fiction is like the difference between reading a flight manual and actually being in the cockpit and going for a ride. 

For example, let's take an historical event: Sherman's March and the burning of Atlanta during the Civil War. How do we remember it? Through a textbook account of military strategies, generals, battles, and timelines? Or do we remember Sherman's March far more vividly from a scene in the novel and film Gone With the Wind? We’re in the middle of Sherman’s siege. Atlanta is wildly ablaze and in utter chaos. Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler are in a teetering wagon with a half-dead horse driving it. A mother and her just-born child are in the back of the wagon, with the mother trying to shield the infant from falling debris from the fires all around them. The characters are desperately trying to escape Atlanta, but the Confederate army is in full retreat coming at them, slowing them down—and an ammunition depot is about to explode. 

You can see how fiction makes that historical event come to life in a haunting, shocking way.

Fiction depicts great struggles for freedom and independence.

The ancient myth of Prometheus relates how he stole fire from the gods and gave it to mankind. This empowered humans so that they were no longer subservient to the deities who ruled them. The gods were so infuriated by losing their power over mankind that they chained Prometheus to a rock and cruelly punished him for eternity. The quest of humans to break free from a ruling class echoes through time and is a great theme for works of fiction.

Did you know that storytelling played a role in the American Revolution? The popular 18th century play "Cato: A Tragedy" dramatized the struggle of a political leader of Ancient Rome, Cato, who fought for republicanism against Julius Caesar's tyranny. This play was so important to George Washington that he defied a Congressional order banning the performance of plays during wartime and had the work performed to inspire his troops after their harsh winter at Valley Forge. Washington didn’t give his troops a lecture or a pep talk to boost their spirits. Instead, he used the sweeping drama of a play. 

In the prelude to the American Civil War, the most influential abolitionist writing was a novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, by Harriet Beecher Stowe. It was this book—a work of fiction—that became an international bestseller and galvanized the North against the evils of slavery. 

Fiction has also shown us the face of evil in grim detail. The term Big Brother, which originated from George Orwell’s novel 1984, has become the enduring worldwide symbol of tyranny. We still use this term today, over 70 years since the novel’s original publication in 1949. 

Novels have contained moving messages about freedom. Ayn Rand’s epic philosophical novel, Atlas Shrugged, shows us the role of the individual’s free, creative mind and productive activities as the generator of human progress. This novel has inspired millions to embrace the glory of freedom. 

Stories that dramatize important ideas have always inspired me in my writing.

With no pretensions to the above works intended, I strive in my novels to create strong plots interwoven with thought-provoking themes. My new novel, Just the Truth, is a political thriller that portrays the threats to a free press in an era of growing government power and the fearless spirit of one journalist, Laura Taninger, who risks her career, her reputation—and ultimately her life— to uncover a scheme that just might subvert free elections in America. Just when Laura is on to suspicious activities surrounding the reelection of president Ken Martin, her source within the administration is murdered. This courageous newswoman battles the most powerful political players to keep journalism, a free press—and truth—alive. Through a gripping murder mystery, the novel brings to life the importance of a responsible and independent press, an accountable government, and the rule of law.

I love to write fiction that offers a full plate of plot action served with a generous pour of intoxicating ideas. Are you ready for a sizzling read? I’m inviting you to my table.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Genevieve (Gen) LaGreca writes novels with innovative plots, strong romance, and themes that glorify individual freedom and independence. She has written novels of different genres including historical, mystery, and romance fiction as well as short stories. She is one of the successful new indie authors whose novels have topped the charts in the popular ebook format. Her latest book is called, Just the Truth.

5 Brilliant Tips to Hone Self-Accountability Skills as a Writer

by Peter Clarke

It takes fire in the belly and constant hunger to make a difference with words and creativity to become a writer. The task of writing or the idea to pursue writing as a full-time career requires you to be self-disciplined on various grounds. No matter what you choose to become, an academic essay writer, blogger or ad copywriter, you have to be self-accountable. Gauging one’s progress and growth as a writer, identifying the setbacks and working on them constantly are some of the most crucial aspects.

Unless you know how to hone self-accountability skills and implement them in your work, becoming a successful writer will be a tough nut to crack. So, make sure you abide by the following five essential self-accountability tips to fuel your writing endeavours.

Happy reading!

1.     Maintain an Excel Sheet to record the daily word count

If writing is a serious business for you, then I feel safe to assume that you might be having bulk client projects to work daily. It's a known fact there will be a specific word limit and targets to meet each day or at the end of the month. This is where the significance of self-accountability comes in. You can always put an effort to maintain a spreadsheet and record your daily word count as well as the deficit you need to compensate.

Here’s how:

®   Sign up with platforms like Google Sheets and list the number of days in the month in one column and include your daily word count in a separate column.

®   Keep updating the sheet every day and make changes in your calculations accordingly.

®   This will help you monitor and evaluate the number of words you have written on a day and the deficit you need to chase for the rest of the month.

Keeping track of your daily word count will also help you intimate your client regarding the targets achieved and other essentials constructively. You will also be able to showcase professionalism on your boss.

2.     Utilise the potential of habit tracking apps

With technology creating wonders worldwide, habit track applications can help people in several ways. Especially when it comes to ensuring self-accountability in writing, habit tracking apps have a major role to play.

Here’s everything you need to know.

®   Using applications such as Loop Habit Tracker and Habitica will help you monitor self-progress with automated alerts and notifications reminding.

®   If you want to maintain a healthy flow while writing, habit tracking apps will help you stay productive.

®   Moreover, clients want to deal with writers who are self-motivated and dedicated to meeting deadlines by all means.

®   The alert notifications sent by these apps will act as a wake-up call if you end up missing out on reworks, including an additional chunk of paragraphs and the likes.

So, isn’t it a productive decision to embrace this strategy and improve your self-accountability in writing?

3.     Set your own writing goals

Even though the concepts of writing habit and writing goals go hand in hand, they are a tad different. When you set writing goals, you plan how to approach a particular blog, ad copy or an article. You create your ways to conduct the needful research and the likes.

Here’s what you must know about establishing writing goals.

®   If you find any particular project too complicated, make a list of all the potential research platforms you would like to explore for the task.

®   You may refer to digital forums such as ResearchGate, Google Scholar, Semantic Scholar and the likes.

®   Once you are done establishing your research goals, move on to the segment of outlining the final draft of your write-up.

®   Now, set your deadline. For example, if you are associated with an architecture dissertation writing  firm and your client wants you to deliver the case study within 48 hours, stay ahead of it.

®   Make it a point to wrap up the case study within 36 hours. Approach the paper accordingly, accumulate all key findings beforehand and stun your client with delivery before the actual deadline.

That’s how you establish and meet writing goals. When it comes to self-accountability, you got to walk that extra mile and make your presence felt among thousands of others.

4.     Work on one writing project at a time

The term ‘multitasking’ may sound cool, but it isn't everyone's cup of tea. To be very honest, there’s no credibility being a multitasker, only to ruin too many jobs at the same time. Especially when you are writing, and there's creativity associated with the task, you must always attempt one project at a time.

Here are some recommended suggestions that will help you through the process.

®   Dedicate separate writing hours for various projects.

®   For example, if you have the same deadline for two different writing projects, then refrain from working on them simultaneously.

®   Instead, chalk out a plan and dedicate a couple of hours in the morning to working on Project A, and commence Project B in the afternoon.

®   That way, you will be able to maintain a fine balance while attending bulk projects with the same deadline.

After all, working on one task at a time is easier than trying to hop around multiple projects. If you attend one particular task with complete focus and diligence, the overall quality of your write-up will automatically level up. Think it over!

5.     Reward yourself often

You don’t need to wait for your clients or managers to appreciate your writing endeavours. Instead, you can reward yourself and appreciate your effort towards the achievement you're a part of. For example, if you have successfully finished the writing project much ahead of the deadline, writer can try rate my paper for writing error fix. &  it is an achievement. So, why would you wait for others to appreciate it while you can do a lot many things to cheer yourself?

Take note of these ideas and game up self-accountability like a pro.

®   Set deadlines in terms of submission before the actual deadline, or set goals to reach the mark of typing 10,000 words in a day.

®   Once you achieve something huge, reward your effort by buying yourself your favourite pair shoes, go on a movie date or take a casual break from work.

®   These are nothing but ways that will help you identify yourself as a promising writer who can climb up the ladder amid all obstacles.

All that matters is a pat on the back to get us going. At times, you need to be your cheerleader. If it can make you a better writer, more accountable human being and a go-getter, then what’s the harm in rewarding yourself?

Summing up,

It won't matter if you are a writer offering should use spell checker  or someone from the ad copywriting agency; we all are selling words at the end of the day. Let’s make it worthwhile. Refer to the strategies mentioned above, focus on the key pointers and make your move towards becoming a better writer with each passing day.

Keep hustling. Keep growing!

Author Bio: Peter Clarke is an experienced writer, associated with the Law assignment help forum MyAssignmenthelp.com. Apart from that, he is a motivational speaker,  Psychology dissertation writer, NGO activist and digital education program coordinator, coming from Glasgow, the United Kingdom.

Lyla Lee on Tapping into K-pop For Her YA Debut

Inspiration is a funny thing. It can come to us like a lightning bolt, through the lyrics of a song, or in the fog of a dream. Ask any writer where their stories come from and you’ll get a myriad of answers, and in that vein I created the WHAT (What the Hell Are you Thinking?) interview. Always including in the WHAT is one random question to really dig down into the interviewees mind, and probably supply some illumination into my own as well.

Today’s guest for the WHAT is Lyla Lee, author of the Mindy Kim series as well as the upcoming YA novel, I’ll Be The One (Katherine Tegen / HarperCollins). Although she was born in a small town in South Korea, she’s since then lived in various parts of the United States, including California, Florida, and Texas. Inspired by her English teacher, she started writing her own stories in fourth grade and finished her first novel at the age of fourteen. After working various jobs in Hollywood and studying Psychology and Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California, she now lives in Dallas, Texas. 

Ideas for our books can come from just about anywhere, and sometimes even we can’t pinpoint exactly how or why. Did you have a specific origin point for your book?

My YA debut, I’LL BE THE ONE, is the product of many different experiences, from how my uncle won a K-pop competition when I was in middle school to how my mom and I used to watch Korean talent competitions together when I was in middle school. But the most direct origin inspiration point for the book was when I first got into K-pop dancing in 2017. Winters in Northern California are rainy and cold, and I really needed a fun indoor workout routine/pick-me-up for the days when I needed a distraction from being on submission to publishers. This was actually before BTS got as popular as they are now, and I serendipitously stumbled on them purely because I was looking for fun K-pop choreographies (they consistently upload easy-to-follow dance practice videos on their YouTube channel). I was also a dancer before I became a writer—when I was three, I was fat-shamed into quitting ballet—so rediscovering my love for dance twenty years later inspired me to start writing I’LL BE THE ONE. 

Once the original concept existed, how did you build a plot around it?

I actually didn’t start writing the actual book until the last half of the following year. I usually take a couple of months to build up a story, and for this one, I spent a lot of time listening to Korean pop and hip hop. I also re-watched a lot of Korean music competition shows and watched other reality TV shows (my roommate at the time was binge-watching Keeping Up with the Kardashians so I watched a few episodes with her, lol) while working on this book. The hardest part of the book, plot-wise, was finetuning the competition structure so that it felt genuine and surprising, like a real reality TV show. I did this with the help of my brilliant editor and a friend that currently works in the K-pop industry. Other than that, I focused on emotional beats and developing character relationships as well as the relationship Skye had with herself, all of which I did through listening to music.

Have you ever had the plot firmly in place, only to find it changing as the story moved from your mind to paper?

Definitely! I am neither a plotter nor pantser but an odd hybrid of both. I do write an outline while I am thinking of the story, but then I follow the story wherever it takes me, sometimes even changing things based on the music I come across while writing the book. For example, in my original outline, Henry Cho, the love interest, was a stuck up, douchey celebrity model. So, a lot of plot beats were based off of that. But then I heard “Delicate” by Taylor Swift, which has the lines, “My reputation's never been worse, so/You must like me for me” as well as the surprisingly fragile “Is it cool that I said all that?/Is it chill that you're in my head?/'Cause I know that it's delicate.” These lines inspired me to change the story so Henry is more fragile and, thus perhaps, more relatable and human despite his fame, rather than being the indestructible celebrity I first thought him to be.

Do story ideas come to you often, or is fresh material hard to come by?

I never run out of story ideas, which can be a blessing and a curse. I actually have the opposite problem where I’d come up with tons of ideas for scripts and novels but only be able to finish writing a small percentage of them since I’m a woefully slow writer. The rest slips through the cracks! 

How do you choose which story to write next, if you’ve got more than one percolating?

When I’m not writing, I’m constantly listening to YA audiobooks. So, I keep an eye out for trends and consult my agent on which project she thinks has the most potential. I also ask my writer friends about their honest opinions about my ideas. Finally, I try writing out a few of the ideas to see if they actually have legs on paper. Sometimes, ideas seem really cool but then fizz out after a few pages once I try writing them. If I feel like a story can continue past that, I work on it until it becomes a full-fledged novel.

I have 5 cats and 2 Dalmatian puppies (seriously, check my Instagram feed) and I usually have at least one or two snuggling with me when I write. Do you have a writing buddy, or do you find it distracting?

FIVE CATS!!! You are living your best life. My housemates have an adorable golden doodle that hangs out with me in the house while everyone else is at their regular 9-5 (I don’t work regular work hours for my non-writing job). Her name is Lulu and I love her. Temperamentally, she’s more like a cat than a dog in that she’s usually off by herself somewhere in the house rather than constantly needing attention. But she’s always down to play with me when I need a brain break, which helps me out a lot!