Finding the heart and soul of your story is no easy journey. Last week, I tossed the Monomyth your way. An ancient path is truly a wonderful way into your story. Learning about the theory behind story will help you understand what you are trying to do.
This week I've been crazy busy. The day job, B-fest, TEENS Publish, QueryKombat, the demise of my fridge, and now apparently, my stomach is not a happy camper, so this week is about survival and the heart and soul of story.
One reason we love books is what they make us feel. Every book has an emotional journey. An this is an important part of your story. I'm not talking about the emotional journey of your characters, but of your readers. I'm going to get science-y here. Emotion is a survival mechanism to meet survival needs. Good writing is going to throttle readers in a useful way. Lots of my writer friends have made me feel uncomfortable (Ha,ha, if you are a writer, I just think you are my friend.) They write about stuff that is foreign to my experience, but their books make me more.
Here is some serious stuff. Children's fiction is out there to help youth survive.
Children's authors know if the right book is not put in the right hands, well, that child might not survive the degradation, confusion, and hate that is trying to rip him or her apart. Noble stuff. Yes, I love you, my peeps, I love that you are trying evoke the necessary emotions to make this life a more accepting and tolerant journey.
Play the heartstrings. Let those kids know that they are not alone. Rock the boat, shake the ground, or shift the paradigm. Don't stop. I will be next week with more heart and soul of story.
Here is a doodle.
Here is a quote for your pocket.
Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty. John F. Kennedy
2 comments:
So true Molly. For so many of us, books gave an escape, and empathy. I really want to write a book that makes a difference. Play those heartstrings :)
Oh, Vijaya, I'm praying for you and that book from you. It's so important. My bones say so.
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