Why Fiction?

So before I get into the details of my book (which I'm so excited to share with you I can hardly stand it), I wanted to explain why I write fiction, and why you should care. (Plus a bit of insight into my writing process which may or may not cause you to want to have me committed.)Storytelling has been around since the beginning of language itself, and has almost always been used to illustrate a point.Stories are relatable and easy to understand at a basic, human level. We connect with stories because they reflect our experiences or give us insight into experiences we'd never had in an understandable way. Great communicators use stories to teach us important truths, truths we'd never understand any other way.Because of this fact, fiction is powerful. Yes, it can be a welcome escape from the monotony of everyday life, but there are more important things going on, under the surface. There are underlying moral (or amoral) themes, lessons to be learned, and viewpoints to consider. And when a person is incited to change by the telling of a simple story, the power of fiction is on full display.Great fiction reveals to the heart what the mind is too intelligent to understand. [Tweet this]In my writing, themes I didn't intend to show or didn't even know were there showed up, and it astounded me. I've heard it said that a story shows the struggles the author is dealing with at the time they wrote it, and can I just say... I may or may not have some trust issues. Ahem.So as you venture into my fictitious world with me and meet my characters, read their thoughts, see how they react to what happens to them, I hope you'll be looking for the lessons unintentionally woven throughout the pages. It pleasantly surprised me when I looked back on what I'd written - I hope it will do the same for you! Oh, and before I go, that bit of insight into my writing process as promised...I said above that the themes in my story just showed up out of nowhere. Well, my characters kind of did, too. There was some intentionality - and sometimes randomness - in initially creating them (I got one last name off a headstone at Arlington National Cemetery!), but once they were created and I got to know them (stay with me here), I basically just wrote down what they told me happened. That's the crazy part.But it's true, and I've heard other authors say the same thing! My characters are more real to me than many other actually real people, probably because I know them so well. Once I'd created them and set them loose in the story, they did what they would do based on who they are and I watched, writing it all down. There was even one scene that I knew someone had died in, but I didn't know who until I wrote the part where my character walked into the room. Creepy, maybe, but so cool.So stick with me, and try not to call the insane asylum. I'd appreciate it.