Never Stop Learning

Today I was looking over a story I've been working on for eight months. It's changed a lot in that time. The basic premise is the same, but it's not the same story.

Two of the most important lessons I've learned are to let the story tell itself and keep it real. I write what I want to say, but its as I edit that the real story reveals itself. That's when new ideas emerge, dialog is added, new scenes are created.

I think that's where the belief is that a piece of wood or a stone knows what it is and the artist brings it out comes from. The artist, in this case a writer, makes the preliminary marks, then the ideas come from there. The work tells you where to go. If you go in the wrong direction, it will tell you, just as surely as if you turn your car the wrong way on a one-way street. There are obvious signs you've made a mistake and you'll see them soon enough.

When you've made all of your corrections, you still need to verify your facts. Never underestimate your readers! If your main character makes a drink and you describe how, verify the name and combination for the setting. Different regions do things differently, have different sayings and have different names for things. Put in as much description, information and fact as you can within your word count, if you have one, without making it feel cluttered or disturbing the flow.

Keeping it real and letting the story flow naturally will help you learn to be open to your story going in new, previously unthought of directions, as well as expanding your education and enhancing your writing.