The Place For My Writers Notes

original posting: Fri, 14 Dec 2001 07:38:14 -0500


Here's an exercise that will help you write the best piece of your career.  Ready?

Okay, here's the bones of this exercise (you'll put the meat on while doing it).

First, sit back, relax, and imagine that some time has passed.  You've just gotten the early release of a future anthology or collection containing your best piece (perhaps it's the anniversary release of your works?:-)  In other words, you've become the writer you want to be, and your work has become a part of the public consciousness, and one of your best works has been selected for this.

Now, you flip to your piece, and just before it, there's an introduction written by your favorite author, critic, reviewer of your work, someone who understands your writing and your approach and knows how to tell people what they are about to enjoy, how to lead them into your work so that they get the most possible from it.

Who is that writer?  Who put together that introduction? 

If your work is a novel, the introduction may be several pages long, a short story or poem may have a somewhat shorter introduction.  But what are the key points to that introduction?  What does it point out about your writing?

Stop here, and write down the main points of the introduction.  If you want to, give us the lead sentence, or perhaps the final ringing summary that leads into your work.

Look it over.  Did they miss anything critical about your work?  When you write the letter thanking them for the introduction, what are you going to say?

Go ahead and bask in enjoying that introduction for a few minutes.  Think about how well-deserved it is, how it leads your readers to your work, where this work fits into the rest of your writing.

Then, if you're ready, do the second part of this exercise.  Sit down and write the piece (the poem, short story, essay, novel, or whatever) that they are going to introduce!

Original Posting: Fri, 28 Mar 2003 11:25:59 -0500

So let's think about how you let your reader know what's in it for them...

(not forgetting the little questions of who you are and why you are there, master narrator, but let's consider how the tale being told tells the reader what they will get out of it)

What's in it for them?  Why should they read this piece?  Something you, the writer, can use to check what you include or leave out of your piece?

The Vision Story or What's in It For the Reader

"If your listener(s) are comfortable with who you are and why you are here, then they are ready to listen to what you think is in it for them.  I don't think anyone sets out to influence others without the understanding that we need to demonstrate some benefit of compliance  some 'what's in it for them.'  However, many people do a lousy job of painting a moving picture of benefits...."

"You have to take the time to find a story of your vision in a way that connects  a story that people can see.  The secret of a moving story is to tell it from a place of complete authenticity. … vision stories are very easily taken out of context.  One of the difficulties in telling an authentic vision story is the fear that detractors can take it out of context and make it sound sappy, or 'out there.'  Vision takes courage."

"... A real vision story connects with people in a way that shrinks today's frustrations in light of the promise of tomorrow."

"... A vision story weaves all the pieces together particularly the struggles and frustrations  so that they make sense.  A vision story is the antidote to meaningless frustration.  To live in this world with purpose and meaning we must tell ourselves some story of vision that gives our struggle meaning."

From The Story Factor by Annette Simmons, p. 14-16

Okay?  So letting the reader know what is in it for them is important.  Now, how do we do that in a story?

Seems like this is one of those places where genre, series, and even just author recognition help out.  If you pick up a book in a certain genre, you expect certain elements to be about the same as usual.  So you know what's in it, even if it is a new book.  The mystery reader can expect a mental puzzle, the western reader can expect some sunshine and horse manure, and so forth.  Most series do the same thing.  And when you pick up a book by a favorite author, they usually deliver something that has the same characteristics -- if today's action-thriller author comes out with a romance, or a book of poetry, it may be a bit of a shock to his/her loyal fans.

What if you don't have a readership?  That's where you need to consider using some of the tired, but well-known, staples of your trade to let the reader know what they are getting into.  I.e., do some things right in the beginning to hint at what's to come.

TV shows, and especially made-for-TV movies, often have this kind of "preview."  Something short and quick to suggest what is coming for the rest of the time.  It may even be a little story in itself, that reflects on the larger story.  E.g., the mystery might start with the master detective shaking hands and saying, "I perceive that you've been in Afghanistan recently," or some such.

So -- who are you?  Why are you here?  And what's the vision, what are the benefits or payoffs for the reader?

(psst?  You know that question about what's the point?  I kind of think vision is like that, something that you, the writer, may need to know to guide your decisions and structuring, but not necessarily bluntly state in the old "the moral of the story is..." format.  Let the reader pontificate it themselves, they'll like it better in their own words.)

So what is your vision?  Why should a reader invest the time and energy to meander through your work?  Whether you are blatant about it -- in this piece you will learn how to stay awake for 6 years, one extra minute every day! -- or work it into the hidden background of your work, you need to know the answers.

"It is eternity now.  I am in the midst of it.  It is about me in the sunshine; I am in it, as the butterfly in the light-laden air.  Nothing has to come; it is now.  Now is eternity; now is the immortal life."  Richard Jefferies