Creative Writing? I think not...
It always amazes me...
Now I'll be the first to admit that I don't know everything, (Yes, I know that will come off as a real shock to some of you)but I do try to educate myself on certain aspects I am not aware of. Even more so if I am dealing with one issue or another.
My stories, for example. I research as much as I possibly can. Friends of mine will attest to how long and thorough I research because I have, on more than one occasion, dragged them into searching with me because at times I have trouble finding what I'm looking for.
My theory, which seems reasonable to me, is to have an idea of what you are talking about, either by experience or taking the time to look something up. My greatest fears is having put a lot of effort into a work of art and have someone turn around and be all 'That wouldn't happen. This would happen instead, ect'
I've read quite a bit of questionable material online. It's amazing how much more sense and reality a story could have if the author only took a moment to do some research on how certain things happen. Hospital procedures, surgery, illness, for starters.
Yes, I don't expect you to have been shot in order to write a gunfight scene. But chances are, if your character gets shot, it's highly unlike he's going to say 'ow' and then shrug it off. Unless your character happens to be a superhero, but yeah, we wont be going in that direction.
Likewise; if you have a 22 year old character, it is highly unlikely that he will have a daughter of 16 suddenly show up out of the blue that he's never known of before. Seriously, that means he became a father at the age of six. Yes I know people are marrying and having s*x at an earlier age, but I think six is pushing it.
That, of course, is obvious stuff (At least one would hope) and the more detailed stuff requires more research, and yeah, not everyone is going to delve in that deeply. I just still cant fathom though, why someone would put that much effort into writing something, but not take the time to research it first. How can you write about something you don't know? Why would you even want to write about something you don't know?
Someone can say it 'creative writing'. There's a difference. Creative writing is filling in the blanks and gaps with your own imagination to paint a realistic history or scene. These work great with memories, secret romances, hidden illnesses for starters.
Having your character maimed or injured gravely and then walking away without the slightest physical/mental effect...that's not creative, it's poor writing. As is having a family member show up out of nowhere without explanation is as well.
"Hey dad, remember me? I'm your long lost daughter, can I have an allowance?"
Sure, because any one of us would fork over the money after a complete stranger comes waltzing up to us claiming that they were family.
Now, not to say one can't do the long lost family scenario, it just has to be done so that it is believable. For instance, said character has been having dreams about a certain night. Maybe said character received something in the mail that reminded him, or maybe he heard from a past girlfriend. Maybe he did have a child once but was a teenager, maybe he and his gf were forced to give it up for adoption, and the date it happened is now passing by. Perhaps something at work reminded him of it.
I can hear you now, 'yeah, then you know what's going to happen, that's no fun'. Moments of unpredictability certainly give a story a twist, but it should happen in a way that the moment of surprise is believable and not cheesy.
It's the little things that make a difference, trust me
Now I'll be the first to admit that I don't know everything, (Yes, I know that will come off as a real shock to some of you)but I do try to educate myself on certain aspects I am not aware of. Even more so if I am dealing with one issue or another.
My stories, for example. I research as much as I possibly can. Friends of mine will attest to how long and thorough I research because I have, on more than one occasion, dragged them into searching with me because at times I have trouble finding what I'm looking for.
My theory, which seems reasonable to me, is to have an idea of what you are talking about, either by experience or taking the time to look something up. My greatest fears is having put a lot of effort into a work of art and have someone turn around and be all 'That wouldn't happen. This would happen instead, ect'
I've read quite a bit of questionable material online. It's amazing how much more sense and reality a story could have if the author only took a moment to do some research on how certain things happen. Hospital procedures, surgery, illness, for starters.
Yes, I don't expect you to have been shot in order to write a gunfight scene. But chances are, if your character gets shot, it's highly unlike he's going to say 'ow' and then shrug it off. Unless your character happens to be a superhero, but yeah, we wont be going in that direction.
Likewise; if you have a 22 year old character, it is highly unlikely that he will have a daughter of 16 suddenly show up out of the blue that he's never known of before. Seriously, that means he became a father at the age of six. Yes I know people are marrying and having s*x at an earlier age, but I think six is pushing it.
That, of course, is obvious stuff (At least one would hope) and the more detailed stuff requires more research, and yeah, not everyone is going to delve in that deeply. I just still cant fathom though, why someone would put that much effort into writing something, but not take the time to research it first. How can you write about something you don't know? Why would you even want to write about something you don't know?
Someone can say it 'creative writing'. There's a difference. Creative writing is filling in the blanks and gaps with your own imagination to paint a realistic history or scene. These work great with memories, secret romances, hidden illnesses for starters.
Having your character maimed or injured gravely and then walking away without the slightest physical/mental effect...that's not creative, it's poor writing. As is having a family member show up out of nowhere without explanation is as well.
"Hey dad, remember me? I'm your long lost daughter, can I have an allowance?"
Sure, because any one of us would fork over the money after a complete stranger comes waltzing up to us claiming that they were family.
Now, not to say one can't do the long lost family scenario, it just has to be done so that it is believable. For instance, said character has been having dreams about a certain night. Maybe said character received something in the mail that reminded him, or maybe he heard from a past girlfriend. Maybe he did have a child once but was a teenager, maybe he and his gf were forced to give it up for adoption, and the date it happened is now passing by. Perhaps something at work reminded him of it.
I can hear you now, 'yeah, then you know what's going to happen, that's no fun'. Moments of unpredictability certainly give a story a twist, but it should happen in a way that the moment of surprise is believable and not cheesy.
It's the little things that make a difference, trust me