Writing stories
Savannah Brown, whose YA thriller The Truth About Keeping Secrets is a real page- turner, shares some tips for young people trying to write a story of their own
SEEK
There’s a misconception that writing should be effortless and that those a-ha moments will come to you naturally without you having to seek them out. Although this happens sometimes, I always prefer to be pro-active about inspiration. Watch lms and spend time thinking about them afterwards instead of moving on to the next thing. Go to art galleries with a notebook and if something there stirs you, write down things about it that you nd compelling. Read widely, even books that you don’t expect to like. You’ll be surprised by how many places there are to nd inspiration, as well as the things that inspire you.
STEAL
After you’ve sought, steal. I don’t mean literally steal. Don’t do that! But if you read something you love – whether that’s a phrase, or an interesting metaphor, or a character or a plotline – separate the thing into its smallest parts to gure out why it resonated with you so much. And then, think: Is this something I can apply to my own work? Could I utilise the technique this writer used?
LISTEN
Dialogue is such an important tool for characterisation. From just one spoken line, the reader can be given invaluable insight into a character’s psyche, and learn about their upbringing, the way they present themselves or their confidence. Writing good dialogue is a skill that can be refined by listening. I’ve always been more of a listener than a talker, and because of this, I nd when I go to write dialogue I can very clearly hear the cadence of lines in my head, which makes them sound more natural, and, by extension, makes your characters feel more real. Next time you’re out and about, really take notice of how people speak to each other: the pauses, the words they choose. Eavesdropping works too!
DEFEAT
Writer’s block! It plagues us all, but there’s a
x which comes from the understanding that writer’s block doesn’t really exist. Maybe that’s a bit sensationalist, but I’ve found it to be true. This isn’t to say that writers can’t be blocked, but writer’s block isn’t a one-size- ts-all ailment, and it isn’t some unconquerable force that you have to wait to pass. Writer’s block always stems from some other problem, and the only way to beat it is to gure out what is actually causing the block.
While writing The Truth About Keeping Secrets, I found myself trapped at the halfway mark. The words refused to appear, but eventually, I gured out I was stuck because I simply didn’t know what came next in the story. The solution for me was to regroup, go back to the plot, and plan – and from there, words started to ow again.
Maybe you’re stuck because of a fear of your words not being good enough. To that, I say: You can’t edit nothing. All words have the potential for greatness! But no words have no potential, because they don’t exist.
Of course, this tip is sort of a bunch of tips rolled into one because each cause of writer’s block will have a di erent treatment, but the crux here is to gure out what keeps you from writing and beat it.
EXPERIENCE
Go out and do things! If you’re like me and have a general aversion to going out and doing things, consider it research. Travel if you’re able to. Be open to new experiences. Feel. Learn what hurt feels like, but learn what unrestrained joy feels like, too. Expose yourself to every faraway realm of human experience that you possibly can, because you’re going to need it if you want to write honestly. Take notes on living: Seriously! Whenever something di erent or powerful happens, write down what it feels like, what it sounds like, what it tastes like. Especially when you’re young, feelings are so raw and new and intense – so write about it. Not only are you broadening your personal horizons, but you’re expanding your emotional range which can only improve your writing.