Story Teller

[Ed Rogers]

I may be on the wrong site. I don't see myself as a writer. I tell stories, and hope people enjoy them. My family got fed up with my stories so last Sept. I started writing. I've completed one book of about 50,000 words and have two more in the works fourteen chapters on one and the other is a work of the heart that goes on for ever. I have enjoyed reading the post, and uncel Jim is very good. I find I write for myself. I enjoy the writing because I want to see what happens next. Ed

[katiemac]

I enjoy the writing because I want to see what happens next.

That's as good a reason as any to write. Figuring out the story is half the fun. Sometimes, for me, it's like this big puzzle. I don't outline, but there are specific scenes (the climax, for example) that pop into my head, and it's my job to figure out how the characters actually get there. Half the time it's frustrating, but at the same time I can't imagine just letting go.

So far it's kept to myself. If it gets published, great. But at least somewhere down the road, I'll have all the answers.

[Jonny Ryan Mac]

You know, thats waht my momma always told me. She always said that I would be a great story teller one day, but ill have to learn how to organize those long lies i told growing up into cash flow.

[Maryn]

There's absolutely nothing wrong with writing for yourself. Sure, many of the people here have paid publication as their goal, but if you derive satisfaction from writing, maybe all by itself that's a valid reason to do it. Don't we all do things solely because it pleases us to do them? Sure!

Maryn

[Jamesaritchie]

I may be on the wrong site. I don't see myself as a writer. I tell stories, and hope people enjoy them. My family got fed up with my stories so last Sept. I started writing. I've completed one book of about 50,000 words and have two more in the works fourteen chapters on one and the other is a work of the heart that goes on for ever. I have enjoyed reading the post, and uncel Jim is very good. I find I write for myself. I enjoy the writing because I want to see what happens next. Ed

I don't see myself as a writer, either. For me, telling stories has always been the focus. When I catch myself writing, I usually back off and stop.

It ain't about the writing, it's about the story and the characters. A great many can write beautifully, but darned few can tell a good story.

[Ed Rogers]

Thanks for the feed back. My father was 20 years in the Airforce. I played alone alot as a child. I've made up stoeies and play friends for as long as I can remember.

This last book and this next one I'm working on I had not planned on writing. I was so mad after the last election. I started writing and the next think I knew the book was finished. Now I'm going back and taking out some of the betterness. (Not all of it)
Ed

[KTC]

I have a friend who makes part of her living 'telling stories', Ed. She also champions the 'telling stories makes one a writer' cause. She's great at it and has fully booked gigs doing what she loves to do. In my books, you are a writer.

[aruna]

It ain't about the writing, it's about the story and the characters. A great many can write beautifully, but darned few can tell a good story.

Exactly. Writing is just the medium, the one that comes easiest to me; for instance, I am not a good speaker and so I could never "tell" stories. I could imagine, though, telling stories through film... or whatever. I often feel that words are so inadequate.
When I hear someone say the so-and-so is such a brilliant writer, but... I ask myself about that "but"... it's a pity that in literary fiction today, beautiful writing is given preference to brilliant storytelling.
Not that bad writing is excusable; but the words should be so well chosen that they are invisible.
I love this quote from Dorothea Brande:

"The importance of novels and short stories in our society is great. Fiction supplies the only philosophy that many readers know; it establishes their ethical, social and material standards; it confirms them in their prejudices or opens their minds to a wider world. The influence of any widely read book can hardly be overestimated. If it is sentimental, shoddy or vulgar our lives are the poorer for the cheap ideals which it sets in circulation; if, as so rarely happens, it is a thoroughly good book, honestly conceived and honestly executed, we are all indebted to it."

[Jamesaritchie]

Now I'm going back and taking out some of the betterness. (Not all of it)
Ed

I think you should take out the bitterness, but leave in the betterness. That's what makes peole want to read it.:)

[Ed Rogers]

I found the bitterness was taking away from the story. There are enough facts to make people mad no matter if they are Demo. or Rep. I had planned on writing the book no matter who won the election. If Kerry had won, it would have been the same story. I was more interested in the "Skull and Bones" they both were part of, than who won. (That is until Kerry lost) ED

Oh! Thanks, but who ever said a story teller had to spell.

[Supafly]

I think you have the perfect reason to write books. I don't know if you do it like this, but I tend to simply start writing a book after I get the idea and make it up as I go along. I continue because I want to know what is going to happen. Its a great way for your characters to develop freely and by the end, they become their own people. As with aruna, I can't tell a story very well because I get all the information flooding into my head and I get lost. When I have a chance to put it down in front of me, its all clear.

Again, you have the perfect reason to write books, especially if you are writing for yourself and aren't trying to impress others. Just write your story. Keep it up.

[Ed Rogers]

Funny you should said that about the characters. In the second book, I have ten chapters and most of them are developing the characters. I have a woman from my last book everybody thinks is dead, she is living with nuns and does not know who she is. I have no idea how she is going to get back together with the main character. I had killed her off, but everybody who read the book got mad about it so I had to let her live. I'm looking forward finding out how this next one ends. Ed