On Writing Fiction and Good Storytelling

Some thoughts from On Writing Fiction and Good Storytelling. Probably not the first post using this article as its basis. 

Zooming-Out: Plot, Character, and Conflict

Two of the most important parts of a story are the beginning and end. “Development should be as lifelike as possible, and a weak, trickling conclusion should be assiduously avoided,” writes H.P. Lovecraft. “The end of a story must be stronger rather than weaker than the beginning; since it is the end which contains the denouement or culmination, and which will leave the strongest impression upon the reader.” 

The beginning of a story establishes the tone of the piece, immerses the readers in the fictional world, and introduces the characters and situation. But then what happens? Sometimes, the writer isn’t clear on what the ending will look like, which leads to uncertainty and discouragement....

This section ends with:

Key Ideas: 

• Don’t worry about following traditional plot structures when writing, but remember to have a clear focus and a strong ending. 
• Character and conflict is essential to drive the plot forward. To create a believable character, consider all the physical and behavioral details that make your character unique. 
• Show and tell
  

The second section starts as follows:

Zooming-In: Sentence-level Strategies for Good Story-Telling 

In chapter two of Style: The Art of Writing Well by F.L. Lucas, there is a quote that emcompasses the essence of the authorial voice and the importance of a writer’s character rather than their technical expertise:

Style is a means by which a human being gains contact with others; it is personality clothed in words, character embodied in speech. The fundamental thing, therefore, is not, technique, useful though that may be. Soul is more than syntax. If you wish your writing to be good, your character must be good. Authors may sell their books: but they give themselves away. 

Lucas writes that it is important to write with clarity and brevity, to place oneself in the background, but to also have good humour, sincerity, and vitality. An egotistical personality focused on impressing the reader with big words and complex thoughts will only repel the reader from surrendering to the story. As Alice LaPlante writes in The Making of a Story, “As writers, we’re not looking to provide a lesson, or a moral; we’re not therapists looking to cure our characters of pain or neurosis. Our job, as writers, is simply to render what is using precise, concrete detail.”

I do not think I have a style. Friends, readers, supporters think I do. What I think is that style is not just voice, but voices what I am. Still working on that problem.

The second section ends with:

Key Ideas:

• Write clearly and simply. Do not aim to impress the reader; instead, build a relationship with the reader by inviting them into the story with concrete details. 
• Let details interact with each other so the story keeps moving. Consider details that spark the five senses.  
• Use punctuation to set the pace and evoke the desired feelings.
  

I am pretty sure that the ideas as summarized I have seen elsewhere. In that, it is good for reminders. The examples sprinkled through the piece pack a punch that justifies the repetition. Therefore, go read the original.

As for me, more work to do and more thinking about my work.

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