Whether real or fictional, our characters must solve their own problems. They should get a just reward whether good or bad, but if you are writing for children, you must have a happy ending. Don’t leave the ending up to the readers. The readers should have a sense of completion and feel comfortable after finishing your article or book. Don’t leave any loose ends. A “problem solution story” is much more powerful than a “come to realize” ending.
Let’s help our readers to identify with our characters to solve their problems. We can’t tell them though, we must show them. Then they will read and see for themselves. Please keep this in mind. It is so easy to preach at them, and then you’ve lost them. Include lots of dialogue, using words that are simple and relevant today. And action helps to move the story along.
People live in the anecdotal. You can meet their real needs by meeting their felt needs. They want escape and adventure, but they need help with their problems. You can achieve both with the vehicle of fictional techniques.
This concludes the 13-part series on Writing Nonfiction with Fictional Techniques.