WHY ARE WE HERE?

‘You write because you need to write, or because you hope someone will listen, or because writing will mend something broken inside you, or bring something back to life-‘

(Joanne Harris, Blackberry Wine, p51).

          Why do we write stories?  There are many answers to this question, and for me the reason we write stories is summed up perfectly by the character in the above quote.

          But although we all long to produce readable stories which may heal the reader or bring something inside ourselves back to life, it’s not just about sharing our inner thoughts and inspiration.  Many people write purely for themselves.  They write to come to terms with their lives or simply as a form of escape.  Writing can be tremendously therapeutic and an enormous amount of internal healing can emerge from it.  But people also write because they wish to be published, see their story in print and their name on the page or because they want to put a message out into the world, their personal message which they feel could help others.

Whatever your reason is for writing, certain components must be used to make the story readable.  Creativity, plot, characterisation and setting, not forgetting the editing and marketing of the finished product, all need to be individually crafted in order to bring the story together as a whole.  But before you even begin, unless you are writing purely for your own pleasure, the first thing you must do is know your reader and market.  If you wish to be published, it is essential that you write for your readers.  You must know what type of people your prospective readers are and the background they come from.  This is particularly appropriate when writing stories for magazines, as the readers of different magazines vary widely.  It is also important to do your market research on the magazine you are writing for.  Read several editions and study the features it carries.  Who is it aimed at?  Your readers of course, and if you write with an image of these people in your mind the chances are you will write something they will enjoy.

So what are the requirements for a good short story?  To begin with, it must be grasp your readers’ attention and make them want to read on.  It must be interesting to them relevant to their lifestyle, hence knowing your reader.  It must have a satisfactory plot and every story must have a theme, which is its essence.  Your reader must relate to the main character, put themselves in that character’s place and empathise with him or her.  Once your reader feels at one with the character and is on his or her side, you’re away.

The story must have a sense of place and although we all like reading about far away destinations, some of the most enjoyable stories and those most easily related to are set right here in our humdrum lives.  In the kitchen, the workplace or the midst of the family.  We are often told to write about what we know, but all too many of us believe our lives too boring to write about.  Wrong.  People love reading about characters and situations they understand and can imagine themselves in.

A really good story should touch your readers and leave them changed and the short story form is an excellent way to address problems and help people through their everyday lives.  The human race enjoys nothing more than hearing about other people’s difficulties.  Look how popular the soaps are!  Why?  Because not only do they take the viewers’ minds off themselves for a few minutes, but issues are addressed which strike a chord and might set them on the road to their own recovery.  There is nothing worse than thinking you are the only person in the world with a particular problem - but nothing better than discovering that you are not alone.

Many stories are lightweight and don’t deal with deep issues, but does that mean they’re wasted?  Of course not.  Because if your story brings a smile to the face of just one person, even if it’s forgotten ten minutes later, your aim has been accomplished.  That story too has touched the reader, however briefly, given pleasure in an otherwise humdrum day and therefore done its work in the world.

People often complain that they have a problem actually writing their story.  The idea is in their heads, the plot and character in place, they know what’s going to happen and see it vividly in glorious technicolour, but for some strange reason find it impossible to get themselves to the computer and actually write.  Stories abound of sparkling houses and immaculate gardens, all in an attempt to, apparently, avoid the act of writing.

The answer?  There are many techniques available, such as sitting for a set amount of time at the computer or desk each day, getting into a routine, doing writing exercises or writing a certain number of words.  Attending writing groups or teaming up with another writer to exchange ideas can all help, but when it comes down to it there is only one person who can make you write, and that is you.  It doesn’t matter if you sit for a prescribed time or slot your writing in between everything else in your life, if you want to do it badly enough you will.  And believe me, if you really want to do it, nothing will stop you, there will always be a way.  This sounds hard and perhaps unbelievably simple, but that’s how it is.  Don’t be afraid of failure.  Tell yourself you’re writing a first draft which doesn’t matter too much and can be easily thrown away, and let the words flow.  You’ll be surprised at your output if you let yourself go and stop worrying. 

          Writing is a solitary occupation and something you have to do on your own.  To be a writer and make a go of it you have to be disciplined, self contained and above all trust in your own ability.  There is nothing more exciting than having an idea fizzing around in your head which makes your fingers tingle with longing to write.  When this happens a scrap of paper and a pencil are all you need and no matter what time of day it is or what you’re doing, the moment of magic when the creativity flows makes it all worthwhile.

Writing a short story is a process which has to be worked through and cannot be rushed.  Finding the theme, the plot, learning about your main character and the setting, then putting it all together is a skill which needs to be mastered and takes time.  Too many people are disillusioned because their first attempt isn’t perfect.  But everyone’s first attempt is wonderful and unique because they’ve written something original, something of their own which is fresh and new and in doing so have discovered the special magic of creativity.

It can take a long time to hone the skills of short story writing, but practice makes perfect and it’s always good to look back at a piece you’ve written just a few months before and see how your writing has improved.  No one expects an apprentice carpenter to produce a perfect table at the first attempt.  So with story writing, it’s all a matter of practice and discovering what works best for you.

Every story should contain a special sprinkle of sparkle which gives it your own personal touch.  This too, needs to be developed over time, but for the moment it is enough to know that it all begins with creativity.  The trick is in accessing your subconscious from which ideas will emerge, at times as if from the deepest depths over weeks or even months,  at others, ignited in seconds and the idea is there, ready and waiting to be used.  Whichever, creativity is the spark which starts off the entire process and we will be looking at this in the next instalment.

Now here’s an exercise to get you writing:

Write for ten minutes on how you are feeling at this moment.  This is your permission to write absolute rubbish if you wish.  You don’t even have to read it through afterwards.  Write about your emotions.  How do you feel after reading this article?  Or use this exercise next time you sit down to write.  You will be surprised at how the words flow once you put pen to paper.  And permission to write absolutely anything, with no one looking over your shoulder at the outcome, will loosen you up, free your writing, and put your mind in the correct mode to allow other ideas to sweep in.  But most importantly, look down at the page which only ten minutes ago was blank, see the words dancing on the paper and enjoy the magic you have created.

Happy writing!

Vanda Inman