A friend of my recently said that she does not see the point in Fictional writing and that its useless!!!?

Question

What a fruit cake !! what are your thoughts on this? and are there more of you out there ??

Answer 1

I think my heart just broke - Waaaah! Fiction has always been one of the greatest vehicles of expression the human race has ever invented. For all of today's focus on facts, figures, on cold statistics, ultimately it's the heart that writers strike for, because it's the heart (or the gut instinct, whichever suits you) that we trust as the truth. Flip through a magazine - say, TIME. See the UNICEF ad asking for donations to help the hungry? That sad little boy with mournful eyes and emaciated limbs just about tears you heart apart, doesn't it? Yeah...

OK, on to my next point. Think back to the American Civil War. Which book started it all? What book prevented Britain and France from rushing to the aid of the Confederacy? What book ultimately and irrevocably altered the course of American history? Uncle Tom's Cabin! A sentimental (that's one!) novel (that's two!), even for the author's time.

One more example: Upton Sinclair's The Jungle (convinced Teddy Roosevelt to finally do something about the horrendous hygiene, or rather lack thereof, in the food industry). Details more fully expanded upon here http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/jan-june06/jungle_5-10.html

A final point - the very best of fiction seeks not only to tell a good story, but also to teach us something about life - something that we can relate to and apply to our own circumstances. It is this timeless quality of the content that makes literature of any sort, fiction or non-fiction, worth reading. It's just that, unlike straight-out philosophy/science, novels have to be read at a more subtle level in order to be made the most of.

And don't forget - it's never wise to dismiss anything completely.

Cheers! (and gee, I hope that my efforts in writing that mini-essay were not in vain)

Answer 2

Since I have written a fantasy novel, "Atlantis: Precious Stone", I am not likely to believe your friend's claim that fiction writing is useless. Having said the preceding, however, I can somewhat understand her point of view. Fiction is escapist, obviously, meant primarily for entertainment, although if the author is educated and/or has researched the novel, much information which is useful can be conveyed via fiction; for example historical fiction is often a pleasant avenue for understanding the past. Still, reading for enjoyment could surely not be regarded as "useless" as it requires the reader to employ his or her brain in the effort, inspires the reader's imagination through words rather than pictures, enables the reader to become more proficient in reading, all to his/her mental benefit. Perhaps nonfiction may more rapidly and readily increase one's knowledge, but fiction will always prove the more thrilling and enthralling experience, in my opinion!

Answer 3

Fiction stories are needed. What do you think that the world would be like without stories?! It would be a very sad place. Imagination feeds on fiction. Besides there are plenty of uses for fiction. Just think of Aesop's fables. They teach children morals. Fiction lets people express their dreams or nightmares. Plus its an escape from reality for a little while and sometimes people really need that.

Answer 4

We can all dream sometimes, can't we? Life would be dull if we couldn't enjoy a good fictional story in our own little world. There are a lot of them out there. Look how many have been made into movies!! I wonder how many fictional movies your friend has seen? Maybe, she didn't even know they were fictional. It's good we have choices.

Answer 5

Art imitates life.... why do you think the drug companies offered a million dollars to an author not to publish a fictional book about a drug monopoly that has control over the world's medecine?

Answer 6

Fiction reveals truth.
Non-fiction recounts facts.

Answer 7

she is soooooooo wrong. when someone writes they go into a whole new secret world entirely their own until they are ready to share it with everyone else. you can see through someone else's eyes when you fictional write.

Answer 8

Missing alot of great stories

Answer 9

your friend just has a very logical way of thinking. it's not BAD per say. many girls have some trouble with logic. it just means that she doesn't have much of an imagination. don't be so hard on her.