Why do most people read fiction

English in Action 3 Why do most people read fiction?

To find out what happens next to the characters in question. So if you wish to try your hand at fiction of any genre, keep these two goals foremost in mind: 1. Create interesting characters so readers will want to know more about them.

 2. Give one or several of your interesting characters some sort of problem or obstacle to overcome. The problem or obstacle may be internal (from inside themselves) or external (from outside themselves), or both.

For instance, here’s an interesting character: a man who’s so brave and good at everything that he’s almost perfect, except for one thing. He has a paralyzing fear of spiders. That’s an internal problem, and one that makes the reader like him (because who likes a perfect person!). But the fear of spiders becomes an external problem one day when the character gets home from work to find that his house has been invaded by—you guessed it—spiders. Black widows, in fact. He’ll have to overcome both his fear and the spiders themselves in the course of the story, and the plot will focus on his internal and external struggles. Remember that fiction is frequently about struggles, and you’ll be able to plot successfully. Plot a short story in which an interesting character has to overcome a conflict within himself or herself so that the character can overcome a problem outside of himself or herself. In one or two sentences, describe the character. In several more sentences, describe the main events of the story. If you wish to write the story you have planned, go ahead! This is a self-directed exercise. Do not send your practice writing to the school.

Self-Check 4

 On a separate piece of paper, place the following information in business letter format. Align all parts of your letter at the left margin, as in Figure 15. Use a plain sheet of paper, and write or type the information. Save this exercise. You’ll use the information to do Self-Check 5. From Dr. Helen Cesare, who is a medical doctor, to Dr. Su Chang, who has a Ph.D. in psychology. Dr. Cesare is located at the Medical Arts Building, Suite 4, on 300 Penn Avenue in Clifford, PA 18413.

Dr. Chang is located at 550 State Street in Harford, PA 12345-6789. The doctors have never met. This highly confidential letter is about their mutual patient, Paul Kent. Dr. Cesare has dictated the following (you’ll need to paragraph the material): It has come to my attention that my patient Paul Kent has been seeing you for psychotherapy once a week for the past three years. He has been seeing me off and on during the same period, usually for the treatment of injuries such as lacerations and broken bones, which are work-related injuries. Mr. Kent’s physical injuries have become increasingly serious during the past three years. With his permission, I enclose a copy of Mr. Kent’s file. I hope this information will assist you in treating the patient. Yours truly. . . Label the parts of your letter. When you’re done, save your letter. Don’t fold it. You’ll need it flat for Self-Check 5. Check your answers with those on page 109