{"id":955,"date":"2012-03-06T11:20:23","date_gmt":"2012-03-06T16:20:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.unfoldingseries.com\/?p=955"},"modified":"2013-04-13T16:06:24","modified_gmt":"2013-04-13T21:06:24","slug":"on-writing-truth-and-lies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unfoldingseries.com\/uf9\/on-writing-truth-and-lies\/","title":{"rendered":"On Writing \u2013 Truth and Lies"},"content":{"rendered":"

Have you ever told a lie?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Willfully attempted to deceive?<\/p>\n

In communications with my test readers, I reveal little things about them to\u00a0the others using pseudonyms so they may keep their privacy. The names may contain clues to some aspect of our relationships and allow them to follow along as I send e-mail updates regarding my progress.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Alchemist,\u201d<\/strong> for instance, really studies alchemy.\u00a0 He\u2019s helped me for many years as I adjust to changes in my life and to probe it\u2019s edges.<\/p>\n

A couple of years ago The Alchemist looked at me sternly and with no preamble said, \u201cYou\u2019re a liar.\u201d<\/p>\n

I do not hold myself up as a paragon of virtue to anyone, but lying is not something\u00a0 I\u2019m particularly fond of \u2013 nor good at. Another reveal was coming, \u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re writing fiction. It\u2019s not true.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe things I write about are possible,\u201d I protested. \u201cIt\u2019s true I\u2019ve made up the characters and what happens to them, but the actual things \u2013\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBy definition you are a liar.<\/p>\n

“Don\u2019t feel bad about it, Jeff. All artists are liars. We attempt to represent truth using our medium to convey its meaning to our audiences.\u201d<\/p>\n

Today I pause to consider his message.<\/strong><\/p>\n

With fiction I can compress time.<\/p>\n

Stephen Crane in his novel on the Civil War, The Red Badge of Courage<\/em>, did an excellent job describing how large battles are actually intense localized events with many people on the sidelines supporting the action, waiting for it, or rushing towards it.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Life does not need to be a battle but, as Crane illustrates, there’s usually not a whole heck of a lot going on in a person’s daily routine that’s worth telling. We get up in the morning, perform our habitual rituals and at the end of the day prepare to start over in the next.<\/p>\n

With time compressed, a story’s action becomes more fluid and easier to understand.<\/p>\n

Fiction allows an author to tune the presentation of jewels within scenes so they may be better appreciated by readers.<\/p>\n

Drama allows the message to become compelling, an irrefutable truth accepted by readers and characters alike.<\/p>\n

Generally lies are harmful<\/strong> and should be avoided but, to paraphrase the remainder of The Alchemist’s message \u2013 Any attempt to tell the truth in our earthbound reality is ultimately incomplete and in error.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The positive use of lies allows us to reveal a truth more clearly. Lies can protect people we care about, or lead people in a preferred direction.<\/p>\n

By writing fiction, I am able to show readers an easier path than the one I trod.<\/p>\n

By not writing an autobiography, I am able to protect certain friends from exposure.\u00a0Their true situations are not part of the novel. Preventing accidental disclosure is an especially important consideration in this 24-hour information stream we now live in. As readers of Unfolding: Nexus<\/em> will see, disclosure coupled with rumor can dramatically and\u00a0irrevocably alter a person’s life.<\/p>\n

In attempting to conceal the identities of people used as inspiration while writing Unfolding: Awakening,<\/em> I\u2019ve told a lie and damaged a friendship. I\u2019ll do better next time.<\/p>\n

Here is an example<\/strong> of a lie which is part of the human condition and quite funny:<\/p>\n

A pint-sized Darth Vader uses the Force<\/a><\/p>\n