Becoming a Fine Storyteller

 I mentioned Charles Dickens in yesterday's post. Later, I got to thinking about him. He was a true storyteller. I looked him up and was astonished at the number of novels he'd written--20. His books reflected his concern with the society he lived in, its many flaws and uncertainties, especially for the poor ion Great Britain in the mid-1830s. He began his writing career by publishing his novels in serial form in magazines of the day. He became very popular as people looked forward to each new installment. What books brought him the most fame? That is hard to say as there were so many that are still considered classics today--A Christmas Carol, A Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations, and many more. His opinions on politics and the social defects he saw are reflected in his stories. If you would like to read a biographical sketch of Charles Dickens, go here. I found it of great interest. 

While Dickens was the ultimate storyteller, he used his books to vent his own opinions, and many of his stories were based on difficult experiences he had in his growing-up years. 

Fiction writers, and those who write personal essays, are storytellers. Do we, like Dickens, write from the base of our life experiences? Very often, we do. But we also dream up stories that have nothing to do with what we ourselves have done. We use our imagination and become creative in our storytelling. 

Those who write for children have the great joy of creating magnificent characters and situations that entertain children. Writers who write for adults can do the same but have narrower parameters in most cases.

Writers who are good storytellers have other qualities, as well. They have a mastery of words and can write prose that readers are drawn to. When I read A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles, I was drawn in as much by his prose as the story itself. If you have not read this novel, put it on your Want to Read list. 

These writers also know the mechanics of their craft well. No matter how good the 'story,' is, if the writer has not learned the basics of writing, he/she will have a hard time getting published. A letter from an editor could start with "We like your story, but..." 

One of a writer's goals might be to become a fine storyteller. It can be done with a lot of work.