Whether you’re working with a writing workshop or you’re working one on one with a book coach, the main thing that I think is really important is for that person to show you the difference between what’s in your head of the story and what’s on the page.
When you’re reading your own story, you can’t divorce yourself from what’s in your head. You’ve got the whole story in your head, and so you are picturing this image and you’re trying your best to put words to it and get it down on the page.
And as a reader, one of the big things that I do is really reflect back to what’s on the page. What’s happening here that I can see and what can I not see? And when I don’t see what’s going on, what questions are coming up? What does this look like?
And then as a writing coach, I work with you to describe the actions more clearly and bring more of the story onto the page.
For example, if you have a scene with your character going around the house, why slow this down? It could be a throw away scene.
Part of the answer to that is to have more of the story on the page. Like you’re imagining in your head what it looks like for him to go around this house.
When you tell me, “Woodley Park, three bedroom, two bath, gated home”, it gives me like a little bit of an image, but it’s not enough for me to fill that image in on my own.
As a reader, I like to co-create with a writer and put some of my own understanding into it. my own imagery. But I need more from you. And this is something that I see in a lot of writers who I start out with in book coaching sessions.
I don’t want to feel like I need to spend more energy adding in my assumptions. As a writer, if you’ve got me putting in a ton of assumptions and they’re not what you were thinking, then it’s going to reach places later on in the text where I thought something was one way and it turns out you had it another way. When I find out how you had it, I’m going get kicked out or confused or something like that. This is where working with a book coach can help you build skills to ensure your readers remain immersed in the story.
Focusing on getting more of the story onto the page is a powerful way to enhance your writing skills and create a compelling reading experience. It’s one of the many ways writing coaching can support you in becoming a stronger writer and bringing your story to life.
