Weaving the Narrative

Hello, Neophyte. Welcome. Today is a very special day because I am finally presenting to you the tools of the trade. This won’t be a deep dive; each tool deserves its own unique article. Consider this a primer into what is required to write. What I’m about to describe are not physical tools, although they are useful as resources. A good writer adapts to the circumstances and just writes, regardless of the situation. I see a lot of people who have “rituals” or conditions that must be met for them to write. In my current situation, I find it funny, Neophyte, very, very funny. Why, you ask? Well, because this craft requires a blue-collar mentality and dedication. I know the high and mighty in their ivory towers sell another concept entirely, but they can’t fool me. Daily dedication and sacrifice are needed… though that’s something for a later date.

Let me give you an example, shall we? This story is not mine; I read it somewhere at some point in time, so the details are fuzzy and not all there, but the essence remains. Essentially, there was this guy who used to go on vacation with his entire family to their beach house. He had this one uncle who was a very dedicated piano player, but in that house, there was no piano. So he got this one old table that was worn and used and an old chair. I don’t remember if those were already at the house or if he bought them, but I digress. So what he did was use a knife to carve piano keys into the table, and once the imp of creativity got to him, he sat down and played what amounts to air piano.

As a writer, you have to be similar. If you really feel it, if you are truly dedicated, then no matter the situation or your own setting in life, it will all flow out of you.

So, let’s begin. Excuse me? Who is the Imp? I will tell you eventually. So let’s begin, but where, you ask? At the beginning.

Writing, as a craft, has to begin with something, much like a piece of furniture starts as a bunch of wood planks. What many fail to understand, my dear Neophyte, is that a really good story can start from just about anything. Remember, the raw resource of writing is the chaotic energy of your inner world, so it stands to reason that a “source of inspiration” can come from just about anything. It may be some deep hurt that you’ve experienced, maybe grief, maybe fear, maybe anger. No matter what it is or what face it has, something like that is necessary.

What is your question, Neophyte? You want to know if it is possible to write being completely detached? I won’t say it is impossible, since in time pretty much every possibility is a matter of repetition. What I will say is that it is highly unlikely. Writing is about translating deep human emotion, about empathizing with characters and transmitting feelings. Even pure information has to be coated in feelings to be effective. The most ancient lessons stick because we have coated them in mysticism and reverence, after all. But I may be going off-topic.

Let’s get back on track. You have your raw materials, but you need something to give them shape, something to prompt it all to start pouring out. And that can be anything. It can be a writing prompt, it can be the instructions of a competition for a prize. Prompts are essentially endless because one can never know what will prompt a story. Yes, there are more formal prompts, but that only adds to the amount, it does not subtract. Once you have those two things, you sit down and, well, start weaving.

And here, dear Neophyte, comes one of the most daunting things for any writer: the tools. Because while you study them on their own, they are all applied at the same time. Let’s break down the process to its most bare-bones form so you will understand.

So you start with an idea, or maybe you want to write in a specific genre. Maybe you want to be more complex and write a novel with multiple genres in it, so you have to be mindful of the genre you are writing in. Readers of that genre expect certain things, and you have to respect that. So, what are your themes? What is the message, if any, that you want to convey? How dark and heavy are your intentions, or how light and bright? These basic questions are important because they inform the next step.

A story has a structure, which can be a three-act structure, but there are more. It can be a hero’s journey, or you may want to experiment. This structure gives you the most basic framework. Then, who are your characters? Is there a single protagonist or multiple? What is the relationship between the audience and the main character? What about the relationships between characters? If it’s very complicated, you have to be very careful and keep track of all the relationships between characters. Speaking of which, who is the Point of View character? How far is the narrator’s voice from what’s happening? This will affect how close the audience feels about the story, which you have to determine depending on your intentions.

As for the rest of the cast, what types of characters are they? Who is the villain, and what type of relationship does the villain have with the hero? Is the villain purely evil, or is it more complicated than that? Maybe there is another main villain, and you have to sell a fantasy to both the rest of the characters and the audience. Who is a foil? Who complements other characters? What are their motivations and reasons? Why are all these questions necessary? Because the narrative, mostly, has to be woven out of the characters’ actions. Things can “just happen,” but if you rely on that too much, the audience will notice, and the magic circle will be broken.

You don’t need a full biography of every character, but understanding your characters is key. If you don’t, all you have are robots that will react according to what the narrative demands, and that is just plain and simple bad writing.

Lets go on, the world you build should be a character in itself. It should seamlessly integrate into the narrative, maintaining consistency throughout. This cohesion is essential to avoid breaking the reader’s immersion. Remember, readers appreciate it when a story allows things to occur beyond the characters’ control. It adds a touch of humanity, as not every tale needs to be about saving the world. Stories that revolve around characters acting, reacting, and interacting with each other often make for great reads.

And lets not forget setting which is distinct from the wold in that it is exactly where the story is happening, so in a medieval fantasy world a story will be set in a town, as such you have to be mindful of the relationship setting-world, because while your characters are in a world the sotry for your audience is in a setting.

Speaking of characters, if you’re writing within a specific time period, it’s crucial to ensure their mannerisms, worldviews, and interests remain consistent. As you gain more experience, you’ll become skilled at giving each character their own unique voice within your work.

Lastly, Neophyte, let your story evolve organically. While it’s tempting to outline every detail and set a strict path to follow, the truth is that most writers find their stories taking unexpected turns. Embrace this fluidity. If you’re crafting a story about living beings in a fictional world, give them room to grow naturally as you write. The narrative will, to some extent, guide itself, and it’s your job to follow its lead. Occasional course corrections may be necessary, but if they become frequent, it’s a sign that you, as the author, need to reassess your approach.

Remember, this process of refinement is not a one-time endeavor. You’ll need to revisit your manuscript as many times as necessary to ensure everything flows smoothly.

This is just a small taste of what it takes, Neophyte. If this advice feels a bit overwhelming, take a break, clear your head, and we’ll reconvene tomorrow.

Until next time.