Are you a writer or a storyteller? It’s a legitimate question and also one of the great mysteries surrounding
successful authors. I know a number of
fantastic writers who are not bestsellers. I know a few great storytellers who are not particularly good writers. When you find a combination of a good
storyteller and a good writer, you have the potential for a bestseller. (I'm not going to go into the huge number of
variables that could also affect sales. Some have to do with the publisher, some have to do with timing, most
have to do with wild, blind luck.)
I listened to a talk by the late Michael Palmer a few years
ago. The best-selling author and medical
doctor was telling the story of his first novel and how the agency he gave it
to told him he wasn't a good writer technically, but he understood the stuff
that couldn't be taught, like emphasizing the drama. The agent told him not to worry because they
could teach him the rest. And it is
things like that which distinguish a good storyteller.
The examples I always use are the late Tom Clancy and my friend,
WEB Griffin. Clancy’s novels, 
from beginning to end, told a story of conflict, often between two entire nations,
which somehow encompassed politics, the military, national sentiment and
occasionally a nuclear weapon. It's one
of the reasons so many of his novels have been made into movies. They were great stories. He was a very good writer. But mostly he was known as a great storyteller.
from beginning to end, told a story of conflict, often between two entire nations,
which somehow encompassed politics, the military, national sentiment and
occasionally a nuclear weapon. It's one
of the reasons so many of his novels have been made into movies. They were great stories. He was a very good writer. But mostly he was known as a great storyteller.
WEB Griffin tells more personal stories, usually centered around a
few characters, that are no less compelling.
Sometimes he'll take several books to tell the arc of one character.
So ask yourself if you’re a storyteller or a writer. Does a story flow out of you or do you have
to fight piece by piece to put it together?
Are your books grammatically and technically correct, but no one wants
to read them? Think of what would compel
you to finish watching a movie. Is it
action? Is it comedy? Is it high-stakes? All of that can apply to your own novel.
It's great to be a good writer, but I think it might be better to
be a good storyteller.
The quote today is from one of my heroes:
This article resonated with me because great storytelling and great writing works for me. I learn that novels I love reading again and again have both of these factors.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing,
Diana
Story teller or writer? Great question. The only time a story of mine took flight and soared from beginning to end was with a screenplay idea I had. Once I started writing it (with a collaborator), the compromises I had to make to incorporate my partner's ideas changed the story for me. We wrote the outline and then gave up due to colliding concepts. With my books, I generally have a sketchy idea of the story but after that I have to fight to get the logic and flow. I'm better at character arc than story. Maybe I'm neither?
ReplyDeleteYou've surely nailed a distinction in the craft. James A. Michener was one of the best storytellers of all time. But as a writer, his words hit the page flat-footed. Still, storytelling will out. With notable exceptions, the bestseller list is made up of books written by wonderful storytellers, not necessarily great writers.
ReplyDeleteGlad to know others are big fans of W.E.B. Griffin. I love his books, for the same reasons you listed. He's a great storyteller and his characters are so real that you feel like you know them and their families. And Tom Clancy - what a terrific ride his books are. So sad that there will be no more. I read constantly and always look for writing that sucks you in and characters that I either like or dislike so much that I have to see what happens to them.
ReplyDeleteBev Fontaine
Jim, as you know, Griffin also writes with his son William Butterworth IV. Bill is going to be our guest speaker at the inaugural Mystery Writers Key West Fest. Check it out and if you want to be a panelist, let me know. Bill is leading the bar stroll. He & I also share an Intel guy for our writing.
ReplyDelete