Fiction or Nonfiction?
I write both!
I write a lot of nonfiction.
So far, that’s all I’ve shared on Medium. I’ve published 196 articles. About three months ago, I started producing several articles a week. Soon, I increased my contributions to daily articles. I now have over 800 followers, a fair share of subscribers, and a few articles that have garnered thousands of readers.
For the time being, I’ve chosen not to get paid.
I use Medium as an outlet to express my thoughts and process my feelings. I don’t have to worry about shaping my message in order to make money nor am I disappointed by the ebb and flow of monetary rewards. It just feels good to share what I write with readers.
I write for people who agree with me, likeminded souls who are struggling to deal with modern life’s many problems.
Sometimes, we feel alone in a world filled with strife and disagreements. I see Medium as a place where we can share our frustrations and provide support for one another. Just the other day, another Medium writer, Daniella Montage, proved my point.
She read a story I wrote where I tried to imagine a perfect world. It inspired her to write her own article as a response. Below are links to both articles.
My story …
Daniella’s story …
Isn’t that amazing?
Daniella and I haven’t met. Through Medium our paths crossed, creating a brief encounter that made both of us feel good. Never underestimate the power of “feel good moments” to transform your entire day. It’s so rewarding to find readers and writers who are readers. I’ve not encountered this on social media.
The community on Medium is different.
Lately, however, I’ve wanted to branch out a bit. You see, I write lots of fiction as well. That’s a side of myself that I might like to share on Medium. I’m a poet with 25 books of poetry and world photography in a series called Inside My Head. I’ve also written two psychological murder mysteries and published one of them. I’m working on a third.
Here’s a link to my psychological murder mystery, Hearing Voices, which can be purchased on Amazon.
I’ve loved mystery novels since I was a kid. It started with Nancy Drew and moved to Agatha Christie. The old “who done its” captured my attention. Later in life, I discovered Ruth Rendell. She’s been credited by some with introducing a new type of mystery novel, the psychological murder mystery. She wrote under two names, Ruth Rendell and Barbara Vine. Most of her psychological mysteries are as Barbara Vine.
The more nonfiction that I write, the more I understand why my preferred fiction genre is psychological murder mysteries.
Let me explain. A common thread that can be found throughout my nonfiction writing is the desire to understand what makes humans do what they do. I’ve been intrigued with that question for as long as I can remember.
I see humans a bit differently than many of my friends do.
I suspect that my personal perspective is due to an unusual type of upbringing. I was raised in a religious cult where uncommon behaviors were the norm. Living in a closed society allowed me to observe the mainstream world from afar. When I left home and began to assimilate into the civilian world, it was a lot like being an immigrant in a strange land. I was able to pick and choose which cultural expectations I wanted to accept. Consequently, I’ve never fully conformed.
Often, that allowed me to be an observer rather than a participator.
Over time, I’ve developed a true appreciation for the psychology behind our actions, interactions, responses, quirks, flaws, and strengths. It’s through this lens that I study human behavior. Why do we do things that hurt us? Why are some people more empathetic than others? How do we set boundaries in order to establish solid relationships? Is it true that humans hate to change even if it kills them? Is it nature or nurture that determines who we become?
What goes on behind closed doors when we think no one is watching?
It’s that last question that spins tales of mystery in my head. Do we ever really know another person? If we delve below the surface of the endless scenarios, it becomes clear that what we see isn’t always reality. Can we even see ourselves clearly?
And I’m off and running.
I like to get inside a character’s head. My stories soon become a study in human behavior. It’s not just about who done it but what made them do it.
How often has a murderer been described by his neighbors as a quiet man that seemed perfectly normal? Is there even such a thing as normal?
You see what I mean? Once I start down that road, the stories begin to unravel. My characters slowly develop and before I know it they’re as interesting and unpredictable as real life.
I started writing when I was in elementary school, but I was making up stories long before I could spell.
My imagination is my greatest asset. There’s never a dull moment in my head. Plus, I’m an introvert which makes it so much easier to sit down and actually write. I love my own company and thrive in solitude.
I’ve decided that at least one of my contributions a month to Medium will be either fiction or poetry.
Maybe my readers will choose to read what I write and respond. Maybe not. I don’t know whether fiction and poetry are what most people look for when they join Medium, but I’m anxious to find out.
Until next time, keep reading and writing, my friends.
Teresa Roberts is a retired educator, author, world traveler, and professional myth buster. You can find her books on Amazon.
