From Reader to Writer, You Know More Than You Realize

So many new authors hit me up for advice when it comes to starting their manuscript. They don’t even know where to begin, and my response to them is always the same: “at the beginning”. Every endeavor starts at the beginning and in this context, the beginning is realizing that you likely already know more about writing a narrative than you realize. Young writers can spend a fortune on how-to books, classes, courses, and workshops but the best writing teacher is probably sitting right there on their nightstand.

A writer is first a reader – hard stop. This is a nonnegotiable detail. I’m not here to burst any bubbles or kill anyone’s dream, but I would be doing you, and this blog, a disservice if I didn’t impress the importance of being a reader as it relates to writing fiction. Listening to audiobooks is also a form of “reading”.

As a reader, you might not consciously recognize all the elements at play, but your exposure to various stories has given you a subconscious understanding how narratives are constructed. Reflect on your favorite book or one you’ve recently finished. I recommend rereading or listening to it again, not for the joy of the story, but as research and homework.

As you read, make a habit of actively engaging with the text, highlighting, underlining, or taking notes on key moments and insights. Pay close attention to how the story flows and progresses.

Observe the narrative arc and take note of how the author establishes the central conflict early in the story and how they gradually build tension, leading up to the story’s climax. This also sets the stage for the characters’ struggles and the story’s main challenges. Observe how tension gradually builds throughout the narrative, the smaller conflicts, and obstacles leading up to the story’s climax.

Take note of how the author introduces the story’s characters and reveals their personalities, motivations, and growth. Pay attention to the initial description of the characters, which may include their appearance, background, or relationships with other characters. Observe their interactions, their thoughts, emotions, and actions in various situations. Also, take notes of how these elements contribute to the characters’ development and how they affect the overall narrative.

Pay attention to the dialogue between characters. Analyze how it reveals their personalities and relationships, and consider whether these conversations serve a purpose, or are mere filler. Effective dialogue should contribute to character development and drive the plot forward, rather than being simple word-fluff.

Analyze how the story’s setting influences the plot and the characters’ actions, as well as how it contributes to the overall atmosphere of the narrative. Observe how the author describes the environment and how these descriptions impact the tone and mood of the story.

Additionally, consider how the setting provides a backdrop that reinforces the story’s overall meaning. As a reader you know how a well-developed setting can transport you to another world, immerse you in the story, and emotionally connect you to the characters and their experiences.

Identify the themes or messages of the story, and analyze how the author conveys these themes through the characters, plot, and setting. Themes are the underlying ideas that give a story depth and meaning, and can be expressed through various elements of the narrative. Observe how the author uses the characters’ personalities, motivations, and actions, along with the plot’s conflicts and resolutions, to convey these themes.

Observe the narrative perspective- first person, third person limited, or third person omniscient, and analyze how the author’s chosen point of view shapes the way the story is delivered to the reader, and how it influences their understanding of the characters, events, and themes.

Analyze the author’s management of pacing within the narrative. A well-paced story will have moments of excitement and tension, interspersed with descriptive passages that build the setting and atmosphere. Observe how the author strategically employs these elements.

Take note of any subplots and observe how these contribute to the overall story, character development, and resolution. Subplots often enrich the main plot by adding depth, complexity, and additional layers to the story. They can help flesh out characters, reveal hidden aspects of their personalities, or create tension and conflict that intertwines with the main plot. Pay attention to how subplots are introduced, developed, and resolved throughout the story, and consider their impact on the narrative as a whole.

Consider the author’s unique voice and writing style, their use of literary devices such as metaphor, simile, and foreshadowing, and consider how it enhances the storytelling.

Finally, examine how the author resolves the conflicts in the story, considering whether those resolutions occur through character growth, external events, or a combination of both. Conflict resolution is an essential aspect of storytelling, as it brings closure to the narrative and allows readers a sense of satisfaction or completion.

From reader to writer, you know more than you realize. By embracing your role as a reader, you can gain a unique perspective on the elements of storytelling and how they come together to create a captivating narrative. By paying attention to literary devices, point of view, pacing, voice and style, themes, and conflict resolution, you can develop a deeper understanding of the techniques employed by fellow writers. This newfound awareness offers invaluable insights and inspiration for those aspiring to create their own stories. By actively engaging with narratives and analyzing their components, you can embark on a richer and more gratifying journey into the world of fiction, ultimately enhancing your own writing skills and creative instincts.

~Dani

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