By Lisa Turner
What does it takes to
build a fast boat, or design a dress that falls just so on the hip, or to write
a song that makes people close their eyes and sway? What does it take to make a
reader turn the page? Besides talent and endurance, they take crazy, sold-out
passion.
For me the journey began
with simple curiosity. A story had been chasing around in my head, so I wrote
ten pages and discovered a humbling truth. My lifetime of reading had not
automatically translated into a grasp of the art of fiction. I was surprised,
disappointed, a little angry, but I didn’t quit with those pages. I read
broadly on the subject and continued writing. The steps in Christopher Vogler’s
handbook The Writer’s Journey played out in my life over the
next several years.
In Vogler’s terms,
writing the first ten pages became my inciting incident. I was on a quest that
required tools(books on craft and writing seminars) and mentors.
I had multiple dark moments when I wanted to walk away.
Eventually I returned from the journey with
the prize—two successful novels and a third manuscript well
underway. A book contract is a coveted reward, but for me the benefit was the
passion I had developed for storytelling. Writing centers my life. Let me
explain.
Number one. I’m
never bored. My world filters through the lens of craft. At a dinner party, I
study the way people tilt their heads or hold their wine glasses by the stem.
Everyone gathers at the table and the host throws out a question. “What’s the
worst thing you’ve done in your life?” His wife comes back with, “You already
know my worst thing.” Conversation stops. Believe me, I write that stuff down.
Number two. The patterns
governing storytelling—the three-act structure, echoes of theme, set-ups and
payoffs, and the gap between reality and expectations—influence everything I
do. A plate of food is sweet and sour, a mix of textures, vibrant colors,
and the surprise of spice I bury in the dessert at the end. A cheeseburger is
easier, but I’m happier with my storytelling results.
Confucius said, “Choose
a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” He’s
ancient, but so modern. And so right.
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