The Storytellers Charm: word pictures that create a mood and stir emotion

Reading a wonderful writer is like a dream we love to wrap our Self in.

A dream we never want to end.

It's a plush and pleasurable experience. We lose our Self in the sound of a voice. Our everyday life melts away.

The voice seems to paint images we can step right into.

We're no longer aware of the words on the page.

We're traveling, carried along by the storytellers rhythmic stride, listening intently, as he spins his yarn.

A dream may inspire, motivate, energize, and then fill the writer with great emotions. But writing is not just having a bunch of feelings. Writing well requires a complex group of skills that take years to develop and train.

A few writers may believe they can get by with what they were born with. These are the so-called "innate" authors.

Many of these cannot even picture their Reader because they are too wrapped up in their own navels. They seem to prefer the inner world of "innies" (examining their own inner child, inward Self, insider's corner). The "innies" are really just narcissists. And a bit too lazy and self absorbed to believe in strenuous effort, the possibility of failure, or the fact that writing is a highly developed art with a long and revered history.

The "innies" would like to rely on what is known (by them) as Talent. They just know they have this "incredible gift".

You can imagine them at cocktail parties, saying, " I guess I'm just amazing. And all of you are all so... terribly unfortunate." (Like the rest of us were born with buck teeth and a limp.)

But here's the truth about Talent.

Talent is just a naked resource (like a rich forest, or a talented child). Someone must first stumble upon the forest, realize it's worth, and then uncover it's potential (like your Mom, maybe).

Then a variety of skilled workmen (kindergarten teachers, grandparents) can start the long, slow process of developing it's true potential. Eventually, someone must risk a great investment of time and labor to cut down this raw material; remove the rougher, natural parts and give it a rough-hewn shape (grade school).

Even after becoming milled lumber (high school), the young writer is still... not yet... an author.

Unfortunately, for young writers daydreaming their way to glory and greatness; there is no Great Wizard of Oz ready to instantly transform them into super-yarn-spinners.

It will take a great commitment of your time and effort to transform you into a great writer. Great dreams are seldom fulfilled by merely dreaming it will come true.

Here's what I mean.

Nearly every football lover dreams of going long for the touchdown.

But most of their wives know all too well, that sex with a football lover usually ends before the two minute warning.

The best of all dream-writers remember their partner, the Reader, before they write. They think about the Reader. They picture the Reader... listening to them... spellbound.

In other words...They write... like a lover to the Reader.

The truly skillful writer has learned how to channel their love of writing. They have learned to focus it on the Reader. As their talent gets more fully shaped; it's gets redirected from themselves to the Reader.

What pleases your lover? This may come as a surprise to some. But if you can relate well with your mate...you can do the same with your Reader. Each of us brings their own special details. But the essential thing is... personality. You have to bring something likeable and approachable. No wallflowers need apply for greatness.

You can be great, you know. It's your life stretching out in front of you. Invest yourself. Believe in your future. Writing improvement is not available at the drive-thru window anyway. There's lots of time. Enjoy it.

(Let's get back to the Reader.)

First of all, they want to be noticed . Forget about yourself. Talk about them. Use the word, "you" or phrases like, "you will"...followed by, "I will". Let's see an example of this together.

"You will" (then a romance word) "love" (then the factual crap, er the important stuff) "the Roman arches, the blah, blahs and the sunken blah,blahs".

Followed by: "I will" (then a romance phrase) "never forget them" (linking words like "because" can take you anywhere) "because" (now the poor, tired travel author, Plain Jane, adds a fact. Or BETTER STILL...the GREAT travel writer... uses a romantic image here. (break out the adjectives there's gonna be a party!).

In a travel piece there's the tendency to use facts and figures to fill up the page. And... God help us when you add in a chart or two. It turns into a lecture by an accountant.

OK. Travel pieces aren't really about places at all! And once you know this you're off to the races and no one can stop you! Travel pieces are about fantasy. They're about romance. No one takes a cruise for the destination. If they really wanted to get there...wouldn't they just take a plane?

There you go. Now think about it a little. Planes are to get you there. Planes are what everyone complains about.

Everyone loves the cruise because of the fantasy of what MIGHT happen over the slow, mellow course of getting there. See? It's foreplay again. Planes are just wham, bam, thankyou ma'm and a bit of grousing about the cost, the poor service...Nobody feels the plane gives them value. Almost everyone taking the cruise? They love it because the crew and the events and the food...everything caters to the idea of a fantasy...fufilled.

The folks on a cruise love to be catered t o. And so does your Reader. The Reader is like a hopeless romantic who longs to be served and cared for by you, the author of their dreams.

Well, why not open your heart and mind to this one, simple truth.

Your Reader... would love... to be loved... by you. Why not play the role, win the Reader's heart and have them longing for more? It's not so hard. And keep this under your hat, but this is one of the great secrets of writing. You have to love the Reader, then make them love you.

The best of all writers will eventually learn these (3) lessons:

#1- How to please the Reader.

#2- How to praise the Reader.

#3- How to pursue the Reader.

Let's look at this together in my next Hub entitled, "Romancing the Reader".

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