Truth in Fiction

„All sorrows can be borne if you can put them into a story or tell a story about them." („The Human Condition" by Hannah Arendt, 1958; attributed to „Isak Dinesen", the British and American pseudonym of the Danish writer known as Karen Blixen in Denmark)

Honesty in Subject - Significance

The reason why stories are significant is because they tell about something which is significant. Logically, not all stories must be about love and death, but they must be about subjects of substance. What happens to your characters has to be important to the reader as it has to be important to you, because it must be something that stirs humanity. The entertainment value of your subject is not to be neglected, but it is of secondary concern. Prominently, significance is essential for its moral value: your subject must deliver to your reader a piece of truth about life which could help him on his way trough it. This is a grand cause, but art cannot be about something less. You are not supposed to make inventory lists of existing life subjects; fiction is not an empty copy of reality. Art is about insight and realization of life and about the struggle of learning and failing on the way to true knowledge. You may write a fantasy story about this piece of truth, but it must be your truth, your own experience and your own comprehension which you slightly disguise in the story. Common place is not honest, the plot be as fascinating as life in paradise.

Honesty in Style – Straightforwardness

The sage uses small words. You can explain and illustrate everything in life with simple words and clear sentences and demonstrate at the same time due respect for your reader. Should you rather decide to show up you might miss your point by the reader. Eloquent readers comprehend the show and suspect emptiness behind the elaborated phrases. All the others feel humiliated and miss the honesty of your style. Simple and straightforward language is honest. Remember, a picture touches the heart quicker as the picture description. Old languages were image languages and one word could explain universes. Write images, tell beautiful, simple tales to the hearts of your readers.

Tell your own significant and beautiful tales!

Petya Lehmann is Master of Literary Studies and co-founder of Auroralit, the first International Literature Portal online where new writers acquire publishing contracts for their books by the means of readers' ratings. More information at http://www.auroralit.com.