Do you want to write a story #2

December 09, 2017

Do you want to write a story #2

Many failed writers (I've met a few, so I know this) begin the story writing process by asking themselves:

'What is my favourite hobby-horse that I want to tell the world about?" or "what is a big theme to write about?" or even: "what would make a great piece of literature?"

This approach is doomed to failure because it's putting the cart before the horse.

The first thing you should be aiming to do is write great stories. The only things people are interested in are stories. (That's because we understand the world through them). If you have a great theme, but no story to speak of, no-one will read your work. Conversely, if you have a great story, it'll get read, even if it doesn't address any great themes.

This raises the question: how do you write great stories? I've already given some advice on that in an earlier post. I'd like to add to that advice now.

It's a mistake to try to be earnest or profound in your writing. It'll always ring hollow if you do, and moreover, you are unlikely to write a great story if you are trying too hard to get the reader to believe you're a deep thinker.

Your starting point should be: "what would be a riveting subject I could have fun with?" If you have fun with your writing (not the same as writing funny stuff necessarily!) Your reader will have fun reading it.

That’s one of the things you knew instinctively at school, but probably you forgot it at some stage as you grew up and took a more intellectual approach to writing.

Rewind the clock. Stop being a boring world-weary adult desperate to impress your peers. Strive to become - as you once were - a child with a sense of wonder.