The Science of Writing

My apologies, most of you probably don't know me very well.

While we have a rather exciting week ahead, what with an interview with an Actionopolis author who is also a friend of mine, along with more fiction from M. Jones and Letitia Coyne, I think I'll take this time to properly introduce myself.

Yes, my name is Terra Whiteman, and yes, perhaps some of you know me as the author of The Antithesis, but what else? Since I'm going to be entertaining you for God knows how long, you might as well get to know me a little better than that.

I'm originally from Canada, but now live in Central United States–er, the Midwest, to be exact, having just graduated with a Biology and Chemistry degree. I originally came here with the intentions of just going to school, but I met a man, and now I can't think of any other place I'd want to live. …. Except for Rome. Or Spain. Or Greece. Or–

Anyway, there are two things I am passionate about: science and writing. I try to do both at the same time, to considerable success. Those who are reading this and are familiar with my writing know what I mean. Those who are not are probably like, 'What?' so I'll elaborate.

For me, writing fiction is not just writing a made-up story. That is perhaps the foundation of fiction writing, but how beautiful would Doric or Ionic pillars be if they only had their foundations?

In fact, fiction is rarely ever completely made up. Some say that 10% of every lie is truth, and the same could be said for a fictional story. Now, I'm almost certain the percentage of realism would be significantly higher for a fictional story… Or, at least the ones I write.

In all actuality, my work is a reanimation of everything I've experienced and learned about life and the world around me to some extent. The lessons I've learned, morals and controversies, science and philosophy, happiness and pain, they are all pertinent to both me and my writing. And, because I am officially a scientist now (with my wonderful diploma to prove it), I have a duty to try to educate and enlighten those surrounding me. I want my readers to experience what I have, and perhaps learn what I have. However, since my voice alone is probably as exciting as a four hour Humanities lecture over neo-classical art, I disguise it within a fictional story. Instead of telling you about things, I show you them. Before you know it, you're thinking about issues and concepts you never thought you would. And then I know I've successfully accomplished my goal.

Only when readers tell me how much they've felt and thought from my writing do I think I've done my job. Entertainment is wonderful, yes, but I also want to enlighten and move you; perhaps even motivate you or inspire you do something as well.

Writing is art, after all. Art should both inspire and edify.

I'm not the only one that does this, either. I'm pretty sure every single one of you who are reading this and has ever written anything has used something from your life, or taken something they've learned, or felt.

So, what the hell am I trying to say? I suppose my poorly laid out thesis here is that there are a lot of stories now that don't send us messages. Like television, they are simply there to give us mind-numbing entertainment, and when we are done with them, we think: 'Well, that was nice." And while the book is great, and the author does an excellent job of writing it, it doesn't really move us, or make us think about it afterward. It just… dissolves as we move onto something else.

Many great stories, ones who are considered among the classics, became practically immortalized because they provoked thought, inspiration and enlightenment through controversies, powerful emotions, and moral lessons. These authors worked very hard to present to us art in its best form. We are humans, and one of our primary goals as an intelligent life-force is to learn. But whoever said learning had to be completely academic or studious? Why can't we learn from art? We can, and we should.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the Science of Writing.

 

"Wisdom outweighs any wealth."

- Sophocles

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