Credibility in Writing Fiction

Summary

In this creative writing lesson, Counselor Kiran Mistra emphasizes the importance of credibility and authenticity in fiction writing. She explains that thorough research and logical character development are key to creating a believable story world that readers can immerse themselves in. Mistra also provides practical tips for writing crime and legal fiction, including brainstorming, seeking inspiration, outlining, self-education, and consulting experts to ensure authenticity within the criminal law framework.

Takeaways

• 📚 Importance of Credibility: Writing with authenticity is crucial for readers to suspend disbelief and immerse themselves in a story.
• 🔍 Research is Key: To maintain credibility, authors must conduct thorough research to ensure that details included in the story are correct.
• 🤔 Reader Reaction: Incorrect or illogical details can irritate or offend readers, which is a significant turnoff.
• 📉 Credibility Slips: Lack of credibility can be identified through illogical plot progression or poorly integrated character actions.
• 🛠️ Crafting Choices: Authors should explore multiple choices for character actions and plot development, ensuring they align with the story's theme.
• 📝 Outlining: An outline is a critical tool for organizing a story, especially in genres like crime or legal fiction where adherence to real-world rules is necessary.
• 🚫 Avoid First Thoughts: The first idea that comes to mind is rarely the best; authors should seek alternative options for plot and character development.
• 🧐 Character Development: Characters should develop logically throughout the story, closely related to the theme, and undergo significant changes.
• 🌐 Emotional Content: Emotional scenes should be created with clear, concrete language rather than relying on abstract, emotionally charged words.
• 😲 Surprise Element: Surprise is necessary in storytelling, but it must also be credible to maintain the reader's connection to the story.
• 🌐 World Building: The credibility of a story is judged by the story world created by the author, not necessarily by the reality of the reader's world.
• 📖 Inspiration and Education: Authors should draw inspiration from various sources and educate themselves about the subject matter to write authentically.
• ⚖️ Consult Experts: When in doubt, consulting an expert, such as a criminal lawyer for legal fiction, can provide valuable guidance and ensure authenticity.

Q & A

What is the main topic of today's lesson?

The main topic of today's lesson is credibility and authenticity in writing fiction.

Why is credibility important in writing?

Credibility is crucial in writing because it allows readers to suspend disbelief and immerse themselves in the story, enhancing their enjoyment.

What can happen if a writer includes incorrect details in their fiction?

Including incorrect details can irritate or even offend readers, leading to a loss of credibility and a negative impact on the reader's experience.

What does the term 'credibility' refer to in the context of storytelling?

In storytelling, credibility refers to the willingness of the reader to accept the characters and their story world as true.

How can a lack of credibility affect a story?

A lack of credibility can lead to illogical plot progression, poorly integrated character actions, and a failure to connect with the reader, ultimately causing the story to not succeed.

What is an example of a plot choice that lacks credibility?

An example given is a prodigal son who, upon visiting his dying father, makes a series of illogical choices such as smothering his father to death with a pillow.

Why is it important to not take the first thought as the best choice when developing a story?

It's important because the best choice often comes after considering multiple alternatives, ensuring that the story's plot and character actions are logical and well-thought-out.

What are the two levels on which credibility issues can be considered in a story?

The two levels are the immediate level, which concerns the logical actions and thoughts of a character at a given moment, and the overall level, which relates to the character's logical development and growth throughout the story.

How can a writer create emotionally charged scenes without relying on abstract language?

Writers can create emotionally charged scenes by using clear, concrete language and structuring the emotional valance of a scene to match the reader's expectations.

What is the importance of surprise in storytelling, and how should it be handled?

Surprise is an important component in storytelling as it keeps the reader engaged, but it must also be credible to maintain the connection between the reader and the story.

How does the credibility of a story relate to the reality of the reader's world?

Credibility is judged by the story world created by the author, not necessarily by the reality of the reader's world. A story set in 1929 only needs to be credible within its own context.

What steps should a writer take to write crime or legal fiction with authenticity?

A writer should brainstorm ideas, get inspired from outside sources, prepare an outline, educate themselves about real criminal law, and consult an expert when in doubt.

What is the role of an outline in writing crime or legal fiction?

An outline is a critical tool to organize the story, ensuring it fits within the rules of criminal law and helping with timing and positioning of critical story actions.

Why is it recommended to consult an expert when writing about a technical topic like crime or law?

Consulting an expert, such as a criminal lawyer, can provide guidance on the technical aspects of the story, ensuring authenticity and avoiding inaccuracies.