I am currently attending an AP conference, and yesterday a list of questions were posed that gave me chills. The instructor told us that all great literature asks a set of ontological questions or questions that get to the heart of what is important in life. The reason I had such a reaction is that I can see that my latest novel discusses every one of them. I’m not saying that my book is anywhere near the classical literature of old, but it is nice to see that I am on the right track.
As a writer, I often think about what my writing means to the world. Does it really mean anything or is it simply the ravings of a madman? Most of the best-selling novels today are not really reaching down into the deep ontological questions that make great literature, but what if they could? What if writers could write engaging and entertaining stories that asked and answered the deeper questions.
How does your writing compare?
Here are the questions:
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Writing Is Hard Work 
Wonderful list! Inspiring!
What happens if you answer all of them? Doesn’t the story sound ‘preachy’? And how does one define if an author posed the question successfully? What if the writing answers the question to me, but not anyone else? And if a tree falls in the forest….? =D
Great post! My brain is all abuzz. Thank you!
Thanks for the post, I really enjoyed it. I have a few of these elements already in my writing project, but this has inspired me to try and incorporate some others.
Got it and re-blogged it!
Reblogged this on Lisa Buie-Collard – Author and commented:
This is a great “check list” to go by.
I really liked this. Thank you. Nice to have a “check list” to go by. I saved it in my writing file on my computer so that I can use it to do exactly what you suggested. I’d love to “re-blog” this but don’t know how!!!