Make Sure You Have a Story to Tell

 

Our poster for today is a bit of a revelation. "Tell the readers a story! Because, without a story, you are merely using words to prove you can string them together in logical sentences." 

But, you're probably wanting to tell me that you don't have a 'story' in an essay, or an article, or even some poetry. Most essays have a story of some kind. The essayist often opens with an experience, and that is the same as a story. Then he/she goes on about what that experience showed them or taught them, or how it is part of a universal truth. 

An article can also relate an experience of some kind, but it is filled with science or other facts. And remember, that a story has a beginning, middle, and ending. So does an article. Those who write these articles still pay attention to an opening and the middle, and then bringing it all to a summary or closing. 

Most poems tell a story, even if in the mildest terms. They are not all narrative poems which definitely tell us a story, but there is still that beginning, middle, and ending. 

None of the above will work if all you do is string together words that make logical sentences. It's great to be able to do that, but it's not enough. Even when you write stories for you family stories collection, you need more than those logical sentences. You're telling a story! Be sure it has a beginning, middle, and ending. 

Yesterday, I read a piece written by one of my Followers that was published at a women's memoirs website on their Rosie the Riveter section. Writers were asked to send a story about women helping in WWII. Sara Etgen-Baker wrote a wonderful piece that was told in story form. She could have written a factual memoir stating what happened. Instead, she took the facts and turned it into a true story. And done very well. You can read her story here

I have seen many essays subbed in critiquing groups that received comments like. Pretty words here, but what is the purpose? What are you trying to tell your reader? They are inferring the "where's the story?" situation. 

When you are editing your work, add the question "Is there a story here?' 

Building Your Story

 

Do you remember building with your childhood blocks? Or legos? Or Lincoln logs? You started with the first piece and added layer after layer until you decided it was finished. Or wanted to destroy it! Then build it again. 

We build the pieces we write, too. Whether they are fiction stories, essays, articles, or poems. We start with the idea, that's our ground piece. Then we add things like characters, events, descriptions, sensory detail, sense of place, and more. Each one is another block on top of your first layer, or your idea.

What happens if a child builds his tower of wooden blocks too quickly? It's off center, and before long, it topples to the floor. When we build our stories, we have to do it carefully, making sure each layer is centered and relevant. If we don't, we may end up like the child--starting all over again.

Some writers like lists. Why not make a list of the parts you want to include in your tower of story blocks? The one below is only the main pieces to include. You may think of others to add to your own list. Or you may subdivide any one of mine into smaller and more detailed points.

A. Story idea

B. Characters

C. Sense of Place

D. Sensory Details

E. Description

F. Opening

G. Closing

H. Tense

I. Active vs passive verbs

What other things might you use as building blocks for whatever you're writing? 

I mentioned at the beginning of this post that sometimes children destroyed their tower, only to rebuild. If what you are writing doesn't turn out the way that pleases you, you can knock it down and begin again. 

Children build towers with their blocks. Bakers create wedding cakes, layer by layer. A mason constructs a brick wall, one row at a time. Writers also build their stories, essays, articles, and poems a bit at a time, using many pieces, which hopefully fit together well in the end.