One of my greatest passions in life is writing, and I've learned a few things along the way that might help you.

This is part of a new series I am working on called Creative Writing Tips. Each blog will focus on one aspect of writing where I can hopefully provide some insight to spur your creative spirits. Let's get started.

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Fictionalizing Reality

One concept that I always carry close to me is something I like to call "Fiction Is Fiction", meaning there is not fiction. All lies come from an element of truth or experience that was real. The greatest works of fiction in history came together because the author had real life experiences and knowledge that led him to create their works. 

All great lies are told in truths.

All great stories have a core of reality

When writing I try to take real life experiences, emotions, relationships and wisdom and fictionalize it.  By doing this it makes the story more believable and the reader will understand it better. For example. I am writing a book right now, an adventure novel like the DaVinci Code but set in America. There is a lot of history in it, but most of it is made up, but based around real life people in history. 

When picking the locations for the book, I stuck to places that I knew in order to get the feeling right. I constantly use Google Earth to zoom in and see the places my characters are interacting with. Even during a chase scene, I mapped it out on Google Earth to make sure the timing was correct. Down to every last conceivable detail my book is 100% true... except for the story and the characters.  Every interaction the story and characters have with the real world is as realistic as possible.

You don't to take it as far as I do, but pulling from reality to create your fiction is a skill that you have to develop. When you have a fight with your spouse over money or where to eat, remember that emotion and then you can write that emotion into a scene where a husband and wife argue over something similar in the story. Where you match the emotion, but just alter the circumstances.

Finding away pull from reality and mask it in your story is a wonderful way to help readers connect. After all, your main goal should be connecting with readers and fictionalizing reality is one great way to do it.

Let me know your thoughts.

Do you try to fictionalize reality when you write? Where do you pull your emotion from when writing an emotional scene? How do you pick your locations? I would love to hear any feedback.

Thanks for reading. Comment below.