This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida, Kathryn, & Robert discuss the ways in which story is all around us. What is it that makes story so pervasive? How can we use this essential nature of story in our writing? What is the difference between telling someone facts and creating a story? Will giving our supporting characters a story of their own strengthen our protagonist’s story?
VIDEO
AUDIO
SHOW NOTES
Why is story so natural to us as human beings? Where are the stories all around us? And how do we craft them instinctively? How can we use this to amp up our own stories?
What we talked about:
Why is story so natural? Why are we talking about this? (3:20)
Every character is the hero of their own story. (4:54)
Stories are how we make sense of things. (7:00)
Facts alone are not engaging. (8:55)
How do stories help us relate to those around us? (10:18)
Story sets up a promise. (11:23)
Creating the story out of the facts. (12:35)
We all have our own unique stories. (14:44)
You must craft a narrative to get people’s attention. (16:50)
How can we use this to help craft our supporting characters? Can we give them all their own little stories? (18:38)
Give your supporting characters something they want for themselves. (20:33)
Can you use story as a tool to involve your supporting characters? (23:20)
Which brings us to the issue of truth – what is your story telling? (26:19)
LINKS
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About Your Hosts
Alida Winternheimer is an award-winning author with an MFA in writing from Hamline University. She pursues her fervor for all things story as a writing coach, developmental editor, and teacher. Two of her short stories were nominated for the Pushcart Prize. She is the author of The Story Works Guide to Writing Fiction Series. Alida lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with her Golden Retriever, Seva the Wonder Dog. She camps, bikes, and kayaks in her free time. Unless it’s winter, in which case she drinks chai by the fire. You can find more at www.alidawinternheimer.com.
Kathryn Arnold writes fantasy and anything else that sparks her creativity from her home in Kingston, Washington. She currently earns her living as an insurance underwriting assistant, where she also creates marketing and web copy. When not writing, she plays (and teaches) piano and keyboard in a band (or two), and is working on starting a ministry team with her husband. You can find Kathryn at www.skyfirewords.com.
Robert Scanlon was born in Australia, but whisked off to England when only a baby. After many years complaining about the weather, he did the sensible thing and moved back to Australia. Despite a career in the music industry, followed by decades teaching public speaking, Robert is an introvert who adores reading. Robert grew up on a diet of sci-fi masters, eventually discovering he had read the library’s entire science fiction section. Now he has to write his own. Robert is the author of Constellation, book one of the Blood Empire space opera series. Find out more at www.RobertScanlon.com