Ignition
We’ve been through intimidation and shifted to inspiration.
Today we’re turning the key of ignition.
Today is the day where you take the inspiration list and start writing.
But first we need to talk about what you’re going to write... essentially, if your book or writing project was a vehicle, what would it do and where would it take you?
I’ve worked in screenwriting, journalism, historical fiction, novels, blogging, textbook writing, and content creation for a science museum. All of those types of writing had different demands and formats.
Now I just said the ‘f' word. Formatting doesn't mean that you need to have perfect grammer and punctuation. When I say formatting here, its about content and how that content leads to a conclusion.
For instance... speech writing…
A speech will present content and that content will lead people to a conclusion. They will take action on that conclusion, based on the information given in the speech.
Constrast this with a novel…
The content will not be focused on a specific action which will impact and help a group of people form decisions. The content of a novel will be about the actions and reactions of events and characters within the front cover and the back cover.
While we can sometimes identify an agenda of a writer, we did not sign up to take actions or form an opinion based on that particular novel. We did not expect the novel we were reading to demand our worldview change - like we would a speech.
When novels and fictions meant for entertainment outright demand and preach worldview changes and agendas, they cease to be entertainment and become propaganda.
What does this have to do with Ignition?
Depending on what you’re writing, you’re going to need a key to fit the ignition that will start your writing engines. In the writing fields, this key is called ‘genre’. (Prounouned Jon-rah)
Genre is a type of writing based on content and format.
Remember I had you answer questions about your inspiration?
Those inspiration topics form writing genres!
But the first question you need to ask yourself is... am I writing fiction or non-fiction?
For my interests...
– Archaeology
– History
– Criminal Justice
These topics are all things that happen in the real world. If I'm going to write the facts... that's non-fiction.
If I'm going to write from the facts, placing them into a not real scenario with invented characters… that's fiction.
Its important to decide this because the path inspiration takes divides here.
When you turn the ignition, you have to make this choice.
You can always start another project, but its important to understand what’s expected of your project, because that will determine your content.
Fortunately, this choice is wonderfully easy.
If you want to make stuff up - go fiction.
If your task is a textbook, technical manual, or report - that should be non-fiction, which means you didn't make it up.
Although, historically speaking, those with agendas have bent truth to their will and falsified evidence to fit their prejudice and bias. Author Heather Pringle writes about this in pre-World War 2 era Nazi Germany as a falsified propagandized ‘science' took over health, medicine, archaeology and relegion, paving the way for the Holocaust. Her book is called, ‘The Master Plan: Himmler’s Scholars and the Holocaust’.
But I want you to focus on good and proper storytelling... which means, non-fiction equals facts. And my goal is that those facts will be placed together in a way that promotes the truth. Not just picking facts that support a narrative and ignoring the other side of the issue.
When people choose only the facts that match their side of the story and sell it as ‘truth’ that's another form of propaganda. And propaganda - is often fiction.
I hope that wasn't too confusing. Most people when they decide to write something know if they’re writing fiction or non-fiction. Its usually ditacted by the form of the writing assignment.
If you have questions - post them in the discussion box and I'll try to answer them.
Your stories are amazing!
Till Thursday!
Chronic Writer