We are all storytellers. As writers, we tell stories, quite literally, with our words. But as humans, we also tell stories with our thoughts and actions.
So, what makes a good story? And what makes a bad story? Answering the second question is a lot easier. A bad story is what happens when the writer relies on the window dressing instead of the structure. If you focus only on the message and don’t have it supported by thoughtful analysis and a clean construction of sentences and flow, the story will fall apart because it will feel ungrounded and flighty. “Stream of consciousness” writing often feels like this.
Now, what makes a good story? A good story is grounded, thoughtful, and personal with both analysis and structure. A good story is engaging, but it takes a great story to truly captivate an audience.
A great story has something more—it has a quality about it that defies explanation and is only able to be written by the one behind the pen. You could potentially call it authenticity, but it’s still more than that. It’s authenticity combined with willingness combined with desire or need. Truly great stories NEED to be told. They have an urgency about them, a desire to come forth into the world. A great story has that special something only you can give to make it come alive.
Thank you for your continued support of my work. If you’re interested in reading more of my writing, check out my new book here!