You Can Write

Summary

Improving Writing Skills Session

Maren provided examples of sentences that needed improvement, challenging participants to rewrite them in more engaging ways. The group shared their revised sentences, with Maren providing feedback and encouragement throughout.

Creating Engaging Writing With Descriptive Language

Maren led a discussion on creating engaging writing and forms of descriptive language to evoke emotion and allow readers to visualize scenes. She advised the team to add detail throughout their writing rather than just in certain instances, and to test story ideas by gauging their own continued interest. Maren also used a metaphor of two jars of coins to illustrate the importance of merging contrasting ideas to create conflict, a crucial element of a compelling story. She highlighted the significance of character development and world building in resolving this conflict and ensuring every scene advances the plot.

Creating Scenes With Open-Ended Conflict

Maren demonstrated how to create a scene using Maren and Jennifer's interaction about a missing jar as an example. She highlighted open-ended conflict and resolution and how conversations progress the story. Maren also discussed how to deepen a character by expanding the story, for instance, depicting Jennifer as a mother with children. In response to Ania's query about a scene focusing on Jennifer's children, Maren explained that it could be included but should connect back to the missing jar. Maren underlined the significance of plot development and the need to avoid unnecessary scenes that could cause readers to lose interest. She suggested hinting at subplots related to Jennifer's children's stress without explicitly stating it.

Subtle Themes, Research, and Character Obstacles

Maren discussed the importance of subtly building themes in storytelling, the need to show and tell the theme, using specific details to illustrate the story's setting or situation. She highlighted the necessity of research, both factual and observational, to ensure the authenticity of the story's elements and to provide a realistic backdrop for the characters. Furthermore, she stressed the importance of creating obstacles or difficulties for the characters to keep the story engaging and compelling.

Storytelling and Understanding Conflict

Maren shared a story about Maren's string of misfortunes and the challenges she faced while trying to retrieve a jar from Scotland. The discussion then shifted to the importance of understanding the main idea and conflict when writing a story. Ania struggled to come up with a main idea and a conflict, but Maren advised her to start with a scene that she found intriguing and expand on it. Maren emphasized the need to ask questions about what happened and to make the story interesting, even if it was based on a fictional or non-fictional account.

Simplifying Children's Storytelling With Fairy Firefly

Ania and Maren collaborated on a simple children's story about a Fairy Firefly, which they agreed should have a single conflict and resolution with minimalist storytelling, suggesting that less detail can be more effective in engaging young readers' imaginations. She used fairy tales as an example to illustrate the significance of a clear narrative structure, even when the problem isn't necessarily resolved. The discussion also touched on the contrast between short books like Frog and Toad and longer series like Harry Potter, highlighting the latter's need for more world-building.

Storytelling, Imagination, and Outlining Process

Maren explained how authors develop story ideas, emphasizing that there is no one-size-fits-all approach. She detailed the process of creating a detailed outline for a story using J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter as an example, explaining how questioning the first scene leads to exploring different possibilities and outcomes. Maren also discussed how this process can generate further questions, such as why a character is in a particular situation, which can then be used to develop the plot further.

Improving Storytelling Skills and Revisions

Maren provided guidance to Ania on improving her storytelling skills, progressing the story forward and refining the narrative through revisions. Maren shared her own experiences of embarrassment when she started ghostwriting and jokingly advised Ania not to share her first drafts.

Storytelling Techniques and Follow-Up Session

Maren and celeste discussed the art of storytelling, emphasizing the importance of starting with a hook and maintaining tension throughout. They highlighted that the first draft might be subpar, but the process of refining it is crucial. They also talked about the integration of research into their writing, cautioning against overloading the first pages with exposition.