FACT OR FICTION? 

What's the difference?

Often the best source of essays and stories is your own personal experience. That does not mean that writing what happened to you is automatically going to interest others! If you make it a "story," however, it can be more dramatic, more interesting. There is a presumption in an essay, if indeed a necessity in journalism, that the writer is stating facts. In creative writing, when writing fiction, it isn't that what you say is "true." Rather, it must be credible.

Here, you are writing an essay, so ultimately, your purpose is to use your facts (the truth) selectively and structure what you write in such a way that it is not only true--factually accurate--but compelling. Thus, while you shouldn't make things up, you should study how a story is told and give only details that move your particular narrative along.

That's where the art of storytelling can enhance an otherwise plain report! That is how you can elevate your ordinary essay to the level of "drama."

You might also keep in mind that truth is stranger than fiction. Thus, not only do you want to leave out the unnecessary little details that would slow your essay down, but you need to consider that what you tell your reader must make sense! Don't fluster the reader with things that are so improbable they don't believe you. It's a fine line between "fiction" and "faction" so tread it carefully!

It follows that, because truth is stranger than fiction, you could tell a story that is completely accurate and true and your listener or reader could well turn to you and say "I don't believe it." No amount of protest can fix that. Sometime things happen in life that are truly "unbelievable," so your obligation as an essayist is to "justify" each detail in a way that reassures the reader. You need to write convincingly, assuming that saying it is so doesn't "make it so."

I could tell you I threw twenty-seven sevens in a row playing dice and became rich. It could be true, though it defies all probability and would be fairly boring if you kept at it for all twenty-seven rolls of the dice! As an essayist, you would need to make the incredibility of such an event the center of the essay to convince the reader! Otherwise, they'd just figure you were exaggerating.

NOTE: You need to keep in mind that what you send will be read by the class and thus is going to be a "public" airing of your life. In an age where there is "zero tolerance" for certain subject matter, be sure you are writing "reasonably." Don't make things up that will "spook" people. A sincere essay that represents who you are as described in well-structured narrative should be acceptable.

Students write stories with odd or as often violent aspects and are suddenly expelled for being a danger to their fellow students. In fact, I think that is censorship and have fought against such non-think, knee-jerk reactions. But I do have to remind students that they need to be both honest and true to themselves--and careful.

If you need guidance, feel free to discuss your essay with me privately in an email.

When you read and comment on work, the direction of you take should not be just to tell your fellow students and authors, "You were very brave to do that," or "congratulations on all you accomplished." It should be commentary on the character you read about, and it also should take into account the little details that are most convincing or any questions regarding believability. 

HERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF HOW  NOT TO DO THE TURNING POINT! 

It's not that the writing is so bad. It's just not heading toward a story. Again, the hope is that you will dramatize a moment when your life changed. The facts are presented here in a pretty straight chronological line with judgments and comments of an essayist more than an omniscient observer or even a first-person narrator. 

You should know what I mean! Think "plot," or drama and instantly you see the difference between the conventional story and this work. You seem to start off with what could be a short story. It would be best if you came in at a critical moment and the story took off, presenting a character with a problem to solve. Show efforts by the hero to solve the problem. The climax comes when the question is answered "Will the hero win or lose."

SAMPLE OF HOW NOT TO...

    Everyone comes to a time in their life when they feel as though there is no point in going on.  You feel as though you can do nothing right. You lose a couple friends, maybe a boyfriend or two and everything, school and parents, is being piled on. This has happened to me on more then one occasion. When this happens I always think back to a point of my life that was perfect--not one thing wrong. I stare in to space and begin to relive my very vivid memory again.

     It was my sophomore year in high school I had it all. So many good friends a great family relationship and great grades in school, and I played softball. On top of all of that, I just dropped more then sixty pounds. I looked and felt great. That year I fell in love. That was the year I turned sweet sixteen.