Why I Suck at Writing Fiction

When people learn I like writing, many of them assume I write fiction. But I don’t. I like telling stories, but for some reason I can’t seem to produce fiction. I know, because I’ve tried (and failed miserably, haha).

The only stories I seem to be capable of writing are the ones that have actually happened, so more like biographies or memoirs. But I’m not one of those writers who can take a writing prompt like “Then came the night of the first falling star,” (a line from H.G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds) and write a full story out of it, with a setting, characters, plot, and all. I’ve heard some of those writers say that they just see a plot forming in their heads, and they follow what the characters that arise do or say. If you’re one of those writers, I salute you. Also, how do you do it? 🤣 Do you offer writing workshops to teach nonfiction writers like me? Haha

I think the proclivity towards writing fiction is a gift, much like how some writers are naturally gifted to be adept at the rhythm of poetry. I mean, maybe I could write fiction if I study and practice it, but it would never come out as naturally (or as well-written) as it would for fiction writers.

So in simple terms, I suck at writing fiction because I don’t have the gift for it. For a more complicated version of that, please see the list below.

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5 Possible Reasons Why I Suck at Writing Fiction

1. My mind’s eye is not 20/20. It can’t visualize new worlds or bring scene backdrops into sharp focus.
2. There are not enough voices in my head (either there are too few of them, or they’re just not talking enough to each other—in which case, it’s not me who needs a fiction-writing workshop; it’s them who need social skills training).
3.  The fiction-writing part of my imagination has been bottled up in a flask somewhere, like a genie.
4. The characters in my head are strongly introverted, private citizens who make sure they close-lock-bolt the doors behind them when I try to follow them (again, could use some social skills training).
5. It’s my ears that have a problem. There are voices talking but I don’t hear the dialogue (in which case, take out the tuning fork, please.)

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So yeah, there you have it—5 totally plausible reasons why I can’t, and therefore don’t, do fiction. Until such time someone liberates my fiction genie, guess I’ll just stick with writing nonfiction.

Now someone please write a story on how that genie gets out. ♣

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Image by Will [CC BY 2.0]

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This entry is part of my undertaking a 30-day challenge Matt Cutts talked about at TED2011. The premise is to “think about something you’ve always wanted to add to your life and try it for the next 30 days.” I am challenging myself to post one blog entry a day for 30 consecutive days. 

Today is Day 15.

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