ENG 285 Lecture Notes - Lecture 30: Metafiction, Speculative Fiction, Simile
Document Summary
You can"t force creativity, but explore fanciful plots and experiments in style. Keep a literary journal for experiments and writing-play. Try some of the warm-up exercises in the book to allow you to explore some different possibilities. You can still write literary/sophisticated fiction within these, often playing with character, feelings, and even social issues. Stream of consciousness has been popular, the illusion of uninterrupted thoughts meandering. Dialect or creating a new language this is especially true in sci-fi/fantasy, but can be in other places; be careful and remember the chapter on dialog. Postmodern fiction focuses on the ingenuity of language itself so that plot and character disappear. Metafiction also downplays character to illustrate or echo the craft of writing itself. Innovative fiction often has limited audience and can lead to obscurity. There is no secret meaning to a work you write aimlessly and it will frustrate readers trying to find meaning.
