The Last Page

All right, so maybe title is confusing. I'm not actually talking about the last page of the book, or whatever story you may be working on.

No, I am talking about the importance of the components of a story. Too often, people think that this great concept of theirs is the key to getting their story out there, and making them a recognized and well liked author. Sure, that can work, but it takes so much more.

Stories are not composed of concepts alone, or themes alone, or characters alone. Each part plays a role in making the story come together, find itself and be told in the best way. Writers have to do more than have a story to tell; they have to tell it in a novel and convincing way. The reader has to come along for the journey, and not be handed a fact sheet.

This brings me back to the title of this post. You can't have a concept as your only striking element or else you have an incomplete story. Just as nobody should (I'm looking at you now) read the last page first, or omit it altogether, nobody should have to wade through an incomplete story that has a great premise, but misses on the key elements of bringing the reader through the emotional journey of the main character or characters. That is just as important as the last page of the book, because without that, the story is not finished.

Other Authors

Communication with other authors is essential, in my opinion. Sure, there were days that you could sit at your desk, quill in hand, and write great stories by candle light. I'm sure there are still a select few who might do just that, but I think that to become a great writer, you need to get out there and talk to people, find out what they are doing, what they are reading, and how to make yourself a better writer.

Simply being a critiquing reader has made me better, both in being able to take criticism and give it, as well as somehow getting the superhuman ability to read at approximately five times faster than I had before, perhaps out of necessity.

Recently, a friend of mine got me started on Twitter, and I took to it exactly as she thought I might. I'm on there almost every day, reading what other people are talking about, whether it is how their cat smells, or about this awesome new scene they have just written, and that alone, the connection with people doing the same thing you are makes it stick.

You are not alone, sitting in a dark room, trying to come up with some scene in your head for your characters. You are sharing your talents, little by little, and doing the same things thousands of other people are, and trying to make the reading landscape a little better, one well placed comma at a time.