The World of Fiction

The World of Fiction: What a great place for an author to live! We can make things dark and gloomy or light and fun. We can make it shine or rain, depending on our mood and fictional needs at the time we write a scene.

It’s too bad we don’t have the same choices in real life. In a way we do, but sometimes circumstances get in our way. Not so for our books.

We can turn our characters into anyone we want them to be. We have so much discretion at our fingertips when we sit down in front of our computers. Those who outline their book even have the option to change their minds about a storyline, scene or character on a whim.

We can create locations, buildings, houses and fictional streets. On the other hand, we can use historic locations to our advantage, especially if they no longer exist. There was a street called Easy Jeanette Street in Old Los Angeles, in the Red Light District. It was an appropriate name for a road in that section of town. I used it in a book that involved a cold case from the late 1800s – A Well-Kept Family Secret.

We can use the traits of people in real life to create fictional characters. I once heard an author asked if she’d ever run out of victims for her books. She said, and I’m paraphrasing, that as long as there were people in real life that she didn’t like, she’d never run out of victims or bad guys. Although I’ve met this author, I’m glad she doesn’t know me. I don’t want to be a victim or a bad guy.

Along those lines, can an author run out of story ideas? It’s possible. So far I haven’t had trouble with story ideas; however, I’ve been writing this blog since 2010 and sometimes I really struggle to come up with an idea. Then something will happen and I think, Oh, yeah, that might make a good topic.

The World of Fiction: Some writers find creating their books to be quite therapeutic. Your storyline can solve a problem that’s not solvable in real life. You may also become so involved in your story that you don’t even give reality a second thought. Fiction has its advantages. The reader can get lost in a story and forget their problems for a while, too, and sometimes it helps if there’s a character they can relate to.

Have you always wanted to create the perfect man or woman? Fiction will let you do that. It may not be realistic, but who cares? I’ve met many readers who live vicariously through fictional characters. I’ve met people who, if a character is well-drawn, feel like they know this person.

I’ve had the experience. I’ve read books that made me feel like I could sit down and have lunch with a protagonist or any other fictional person in a book. Or maybe it’s just that the person reminds me of someone I actually know.

The Wonderful World of Fiction: A place where anything can happen, and it usually does.

If you find an author whose work you enjoy, read more of their books. Oh, and don’t forget to review them. I’ve got two I need to review right now. I shouldn’t put it off.

Until next time, as I always say, read a good book this week. Let it take you away for a while.

CLICK HERE to visit Marja McGraw’s website (Sorely in need of updating)

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Black Butterfly – A Bogey Man Mystery is waiting for you, as is Having a Great Crime - Wish You Were Here – A Sandi Webster Mystery. From a hit lady to the death of an old-time actress, these books have it all.