How Can You Write a Fictional Story About Life If You Have Never Lived?

Talk about a long title, but how else could I have said what is so true. In the last three days two different people said pretty much the same thing. One could possess all the wealth and material objects that usually accompany such a life, but unless that person goes out and lives none of those things or money will matter.

The same holds true when writing a fictional story. If it is totally fabricated with no reference to places, events, or people than stop reading. This post is for those who have a treasure trove of life experiences to pull from. Those experiences are the gems which make a story rich and interesting.

I am currently in the re-write stage of a book I expect to have out by no later than September, which is full of teenage experiences that are interwoven throughout the story. I could not have imagined writing the story without those experiences.

Another book I am currently writing is a crime story, but the interesting part of this project is my conversation with a Homicide Detective that I know. Not only did he give me insight into procedure, but we drifted into past cases which were absolutely fascinating. 

As a writer everything we do daily can be an experience to write about. Go out and have diner in a quiet restaurant and suddenly a couple two tables over get into an argument or they can't keep their hands off each other. The food you ordered was too spicy and later that evening you were sick. What would it be like to have a flat tire on a dark secluded road with no bars on your cell phone. You leave early in the morning to go to work the same time you always do and today for some unknown reason the traffic is bumper to bumper. Normally, your commute is 30 minutes but today it is an hour and fifteen. You're the writer what happened.  Was it a bank robbery with a shootout, Godzilla just crossed the street, or did a Presidential candidate's car brake down.

I am not saying go out and put your life in harms way but as a writer sometimes your imagination needs a reference point. Your life experiences whether they are about love, breakups, work, hate your job, going on safari, climbing a mountain, buying a car or going to a baseball game all make you the creative person you want to be. 

Thank you for stopping by,
Robert Stephen


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