By Dee Dee Chumley
In her book, Story Genius: How toUse Brain Science to Go Beyond Outlining and Write a Riveting Novel, Lisa Cron claims, “Stories feel good for the same reason food tastes good and sex
feels good: because without them we couldn’t survive.”
What? We need stories in order to
survive? Sounds a bit far-fetched to me. But Cron backs up this claim with
impressive facts about chemical reactions and brainwaves.
Similarly, in
Blue Like Jazz, Donald Miller suggests people strongly respond to the
elements of story—setting, plot, conflict, climax, resolution—because we experience
them. Our hearts and minds embrace those elements because they are an innate
part of being human.
Plenty of evidence—scientific,
experiential, spiritual—supports that humans are indeed wired for story. Story
teaches and reinforces the necessary physical, emotional, and social skills for
survival. Story isn’t merely important to human development; it is essential.
With the survival of the human race
riding on story, our responsibility as writers is huge. But while humans are
wired to connect with stories from birth, Cron contends the ability to write
compelling stories isn’t “standard-issue equipment.”
So how do writers develop skills that
will do justice to this critical task we’ve assumed? I can’t provide the
definitive answer, but I can share experiences that have greatly aided me on my
writing journey.
Writing Group - Thirteen years after I joined a writing group, it still
serves as an invaluable source of education, inspiration, and encouragement.
Writing groups might not be for everyone (although I can’t imagine why), but my
writing pursuits would’ve ended years ago had it not been for the support of
the incredible Inklings.
Writing Conferences - I initially joined my writing group as a way to
socialize and casually share bits of writing. But the very first conference I
attended sparked the desire to take my writing to new levels. Conferences offer
a wealth of information and instruction as well as excellent opportunities for
networking.
Contests - My first contest win gave legitimacy to my claim of being
a writer. It also gave me motivation to continue my writing. However, a word of
advice: Grow a thick skin. Many contests offer critiques. While it might not
always seem like it, this is a good thing. Don’t take unfavorable criticisms
personally. Instead, use them to improve.
Reading - Read books you enjoy, read books in the genre(s) in
which you write, read books by authors you admire. Read purely for pleasure;
read instructional books on writing. Read articles, blogs, anything you can
find about writing. You get my gist, right? It might be possible, but I don’t
understand how anyone who doesn’t read expects to write. Even more puzzling,
why would anyone who doesn’t read want to write?
The ability to produce riveting stories
might not be in our DNA, but as writers we can—no, we MUST—acquire that skill
through study and practice. Human survival depends on it.
In 2008 Dee Dee Chumley retired from
teaching high school English and “re-fired” to pursue her passion for writing.
She has won numerous awards for her short stories, essays, and poems, including
Best Juvenile Book from the Oklahoma Writers’ Federation, Inc. for her YA novel
Beyond the Farthest Star and finalist in Southern Writers 2017
short story competition. Last November her women’s fiction novel Some Form
of Grace was published. She lives in Edmond, Oklahoma, with her husband
Bill and their handsome but rather spoiled
rescue dog Jack.
I truly enjoy writing conferences and meeting with other writers. I glean so much from their experiences and writing journey.
ReplyDelete