Fictions and Truths – Writing Assignment

I’ve never taken a class in fiction writing before. I’ve been wanting to, for a long time. Today I enrolled at FutureLearn.com in a free class – “Start Writing Fiction.”

Three Truths, One Fiction, or Three Fictions and One Truth

I’m still working on the first unit, but we had our first writing assignment already – to write two paragraphs. One would have three fictional statements and a truth. The other should contain three truths and one fiction.

Here’s what I wrote:

1.
Once again I found myself driving aimlessly through the Bitterroot Mountains east of Coeur d’Alene. I visit the area at least once a month, looking for peace not found on the densely populated prairie where I live. I planned to stop over at the Jack Saloon but twenty miles shy of that destination, my car stalled near Grave Creek. I hadn’t seen another car in the last hour and a half, and immediately regretted my stubborn decision to refuse to use a cell phone, not that it would do much good on a lonely, remote mountain road anyway.

2.
“There she is, the Bigfoot lady.” I heard the children whispering, laughing, as I stood in line at the market eyeing books displayed near the checkout line. A grumpy gold prospector raged at me for taking his place in line. I hadn’t meant to. Outside, I looked at the tree-covered hills surrounding our small town. We lived in one of the most beautiful places in the world, and all I wanted was to get away.

Which paragraph contains more truths? People who know me well won’t have any trouble figuring that out.

The name of the course is Start Writing Fiction – and I confess, I started long ago. But I haven’t been writing fiction for a long time now. Instead I’ve been blogging and editing novels. It feels good to create these two fictional paragraphs (though one paragraph closely resembles reality.)

I’ve been seeking out ways to restore my creative progress, so I’ve been reading this book, Walking in This World, by Julia Cameron. It is the first of two sequels to The Artist’s Way – a book I’ve read twice.

Julia Cameron’s books speak to my creative heart because God is included in the act of creativity and she acknowledges that. She wrote, “The moment we open ourselves to making art, we simultaneously open ourselves to our maker.”

God is our creator and He made us in His image. He made us creative, and gave us free will. He wants us to use our creativity while we’re living, and walking, in this world.