Write Like a Rock Star (5 Ps of Story Prep, Pt. 2)
Posted on 04 June 2010 by Victoria St. George
Yesterday, we introduced the five Ps of non-fiction story preparation—five critical pieces to help you come up with stories that will make you and your nonfiction book memorable—and I detailed the first two, purpose and passion. Today, let’s go on to the next two, essential for creating a connection with your audience that lasts long beyond the moment they read your words.
3. Have Some Perspective
Put yourself in your readers’ shoes: what do they want and need to know? What are their wounds and their concerns?
Remember, you need to “get” them to grab them. Think of your favorite song—the lyrics, the melody, the rhythm—don’t you love that piece of music because it expresses some part of you in a unique way?
Never assume your audience understands how you view the world or shares your perspective. Instead, consider how they may look at things differently from you. Now you can create a story that really speaks to them, as well as illustrates your points and illuminates your meaning.
“Perspective” also has to do with the narrator’s, or storyteller’s, point of view. First-person perspective, which uses “I” and “my” language—is powerful, but so is third-person perspective, which uses “he” and “she” and describes an incident without your own participation in it. Describing how you swam the butterfly in high school and learned about competitive drive can make the lesson personal, but describing Michael Phelps’ 2008 Olympic victory by the length of a fingernail may be a more powerful example.
4. Give It Personalization
With non-fiction books, even if you’re writing a textbook or scientific treatise, stories allow your personality—your “voice”—to shine through. Your words on the page should sound like you and have a comfortable, familiar tone.
Think of telling a story to your kids, your spouse/significant other or friends, and use that as the basis of your style when writing. If it’s a story from your own life, try recording it as you speak it out loud and then having the recording transcribed. If it’s a story you’re writing from scratch or drawing from sources like movies, TV, etc., start writing as if you’re watching a movie and describing the scene. You want your story to have a sense of immediacy and freshness.
The more specific you can make the story, the better. What details can you include to put the reader more fully into the picture? Be sensory-specific: use images, sounds, feelings, smells, and tastes where appropriate. Make your stories rich and flavorful, lyrical and melodic, visual and exciting.
(To be continued … ‘Edit for Maximum Impact’ is our final post in this three-part series.)
* * * * *
Want to be notified by email whenever we post something new? Join our mailing list.
You might also like to read:
- Write to the Point: Crafting Great Stories (5 Ps of Story Prep, Pt. 1)
- Write Non-fiction Stories That Move Readers to Action
- Non-fiction Book Proposals: What Agents & Editors Really Want
- Book Proposal Results: What Publishers Say
- Writing About Haiti’s 7.0 Earthquake
No responses yet. You could be the first!
Leave a Response
-
Connect
