Is this story fiction or non-fiction?

[Hannah]

I wrote a short story in my journal, a few months ago, and I don’t know whether it's fiction or non-fiction.

I was walking down the street and saw something interesting. What I saw sparked my imagination and I created a story based on those events. But the events didn’t really happen. They just happened in my head.

In the story, I do mention that “I envisioned” these things happening and I give a little narrative of what I was doing before I saw the "sign" that sparked my imagination to run wild. Is this fiction or non-fiction?

I hope I’m explaining this right :flag:

[cattywampus]

The story is fiction, and no explanation is necessary or desired.

[Jamesaritchie]

I wrote a short story in my journal, a few months ago, and I don’t know whether it's fiction or non-fiction.

I was walking down the street and saw something interesting. What I saw sparked my imagination and I created a story based on those events. But the events didn’t really happen. They just happened in my head.

In the story, I do mention that “I envisioned” these things happening and I give a little narrative of what I was doing before I saw the "sign" that sparked my imagination to run wild. Is this fiction or non-fiction?

I hope I’m explaining this right :flag:

Fropm my experience, most fiction starts off as you describe. You see something, or hear something, or read something, that sparks your interest, and out emerges a story.

But it's pretty simple. Nonfiction is fact, front to back. Fiction is truth, front to back. Nonfiction really happened. Fiction didn't happen.

[Hannah]

It's kind of confusing to me because everything I described did happen, sort of.

I described the events that happened in my day, "I noticed a rusty, acid-ruined plaque on the side of the brownstone that read,..." This really did happen. Then I go on to say, "I envisioned hundreds of my neighbors frantically stampeding their way into the tiny two-door entrance..." I did envision these things (they just didn't happen in reality). Then I go on to describe what I thought about, or envisioned as I saw the sign.

The rest of the story embellishes what it was like in my "day-dreaming" state. Things like what we did and so on. Basically, the rest of the story describes what I daydreamed about (and I really did daydream).

[MarkPettus]

Two days ago an editor asked me if a story I submitted was true. Like you, I wrote about real events that I wrapped inside a fictional story. I answered the editor with,

"Like all good fiction, this story tells the truth."

[Hannah]

thanks, you've all been very helpful. I can see things clearer now.

Just to give you a little backstory. A few months ago, I started to keep a journal (still do) of my daily events and adventures to get practice with my writing. This story is very short (300 words), although it wasn't really suppose to be a story, just an account of what happened to me that day.

Most of the stories I write don't involve day-dreaming. :thankyou:

[AdamH]

Just to give you a little backstory. A few months ago, I started to keep a journal (still do) of my daily events and adventures to get practice with my writing. This story is very short (300 words), although it wasn't really suppose to be a story, just an account of what happened to me that day.

That's how most of my stories start. I keep a small notebook with me at all times because I'll never know when an idea would strike or what would inspire me. A lot of my stories are based on a location I'd like to write about, an event that I'd been to, or a person I've seen. Then I (try to) weave a fictional thread through it all and see what develops. Doesn't always work. But it's a fun writing exercise.

[Tertius]

How about the ol' standby they use for those corny made-for-tv movies: Inspired by actual events.

[Hannah]

Lol Tertius, that's a good one.

[MarkPettus]

One man can not cross the same river twice, for either the man has changed, or the river has changed. (some Buddhist guy, I'm sure)

Tertius, your Buddhist is actually a Greek, Heraclitus, but his philosophy was very similar to Zen Buddhism. Long before many of you were born, I read a poem on stage for my eighth grade literature class...

They told me Heraclitus
They told me you were dead
They brought me bitter words to hear
And bitter tears to shed...

I've tried to forget that poem for over 30 years...

[Tertius]

Thanks for that info. I actually quoted it from a book of Zen, but forgot to attribute it, then just put that in, because I couldn't remember. Just asumed it was one of the old classic masters. However, the book also has quotes from modern folk, as well. OJ Simpson is one of them: "Thinking, is what gets you caught from behind."