Deep writing speaks not only from the heart of the writer, but to the heart of the reader. It draws in the audience and moves emotions in their chest and soul. Words are a powerful thing, and when wielded right, the mightiest of swords.
So how do you craft stories from the heart? What brings tears to your readers eyes, puts a stone in their throat, has them sitting on the edge of their seat breath bated? There are so many facets of storytelling, so many ways to achieve these responses so many even, that there is no way to cover all. But let's look at three, key, foundational points to think about when crafting your story if a deep, moving, and emotional ride is what you're after.
Know Your Story
Knowledge of the story you want to tell is incredibly important. After you have the "hook" or "idea" that drew you towards writing, or even before that when you first sit down and decide there is something you want to say; knowing how you want that received is exceptionally important. Knowledge of the type of story you want to tell, how you want your reader to feel, and what you want to say is the foundation to all good story telling. Sit and think hard about it. Do you want something somber, suspenseful, mysterious, thrilling? Think of this even beyond the genre. Just because there is a love story does not make your work a romance. Just because there is mystery and murder does not make it a murder mystery. Think not of the genre when deciding what you want to tell, only the message itself. The more effort you put into crafting a solid message the better the story will be for it.
Research The Hell Outta It
Once you know the message you want to send, the meaning and feeling and all the little bits and bobs --- and maybe even while you're deciding those --- research the hell out of your message. If you want to tell a mystery thriller set in medieval times, then immerse yourself in research of that. Read thrillers, watch media, take notes of the story structures, the plots, the twists and turns. Find other things that have the feel you want to give and think about how you want to replicate that. Want to tell a story like Jane Austin? Read Jane Austin, watch the movies inspired by her works. Want to craft worlds like Neil Gaiman? Read Neil Gaiman. Pick up his comic books, his novels, watch the movies inspired by his work, listen to some of his story crafting lectures. There is no substitute for knowledge and experience, and the greatest way to experience the worlds you want to make is to immures yourself in them. This effort is twofold, not just to help you visualize, and teach you the ways of others story crafting but also to inspire you. It is so much easier to craft a story, to see the world and know the characters and feel inspiration when you have been feeding that particular creative muscle.
Style Drives The Point
There is something to the ability to craft a beautiful story, however it is all lost if the style doesn't fit the foundation. A horror novel told like a romcom will never hit the same as a horror novel told like a horror. Choosing the style and word choice and method your story will be told from can be as difficult and as important as all the message itself. How do you identify style? How do you craft a style all your own? These are the golden question of course. Every artist chases that dream, to know and love their style. To be instantly recognizable for their artistic expression. And while the full scope might be something we cover later, here is where we focus on the fundamentals of book style. Before you write, consider these things; What emotions do you want to evoke; what angle (perspective) would best fit that emotion; what experience do you want the reader to have?
Use your words as a tool, speak in a way that befits the story you are telling.
Make a list of actiony words you can us that have the kind of feeling you want.
Use visuals such as Mood Boards and Pinterest Boards to help you keep track of the "feel" of the story.
Look at the word choices of books told in a style you'd like to replicate. Do they use simple language? Complex? Do they use lots of descriptors? Few?
Write down notes on all the things you'd like to adhere to while writing. If you want to be descriptive, if you want to have elegant or carnal word choices.
While this list will be little help in drafting the first aka draft zero of your work, when you go back to really start looking at the work and editing it can be instrumental in helping you stay consistent and keep you thinking about how to evolve your written work.
"Being a writer is a very peculiar sort of a job: it's always you versus a blank sheet of paper (or a blank screen) and quite often the blank piece of paper wins." ― Neil Gaiman
Do not let the worries win. A good foundation, when crafted with care will always withstand more than you really thought it would. Take a moment to think about these suggestions, these fundamentals, and think how to make them your own. How to translate them in a way that would benefit your writing. There are so many ways to grow as a writer, and no right way to do anything. It is a creative process after all. Keep writing and keep learning.
If you enjoyed this blog post sign up for my free, (sometimes bi-weekly sometimes monthly) newsletter to stay notified on all the things I've got in the works. From new blog posts to in-person appearances and signings, events, special goodies, and more.
This upcoming newsletter will feature a free PDF for helping you build your own Style Sheet for writing, editing, and more!
Comments