SESSION VII Feeling and Drafting the Heart of your Story

Before writers actually get going on a draft, we think a lot about ways to make a draft into a really good story. But once we’re actually in the midst of the story, most of us try, above all to lose ourselves in the story. We become the characters, and writing is a bit like a drama, happening to us. Before writers actually get going on a draft, we think a lot about ways to make a draft into a really good story. But once we’re actually in the midst of the story, most of us try, above all to lose ourselves in the story. We become the characters, and writing is a bit like a drama, happening to us.

Book example We, as writers, need to try to do this work-live in our characters’ skins as we draft stories. We, as writers, need to try to do this work-live in our characters’ skins as we draft stories.

I am going to add more on to the lead by pretending to be Gabrielle. I am going to add more on to the lead by pretending to be Gabrielle. On the day of my slumber party I put everything I would need into a corner of our family room. I propped my sleeping bag up against the corner, and my pillow on top of it. Above the pillow, I laid out my cute new pyjamas. Then I added my secret night-light to the pile. I was afraid of the dark and nobody knew it. On the day of my slumber party I put everything I would need into a corner of our family room. I propped my sleeping bag up against the corner, and my pillow on top of it. Above the pillow, I laid out my cute new pyjamas. Then I added my secret night-light to the pile. I was afraid of the dark and nobody knew it.

I checked all my stuff at least three times. I made sure my secret night-light was pushed all the way to the bottom of my pillowcase where no one would see it. Then I walked over to the table and rearranged the napkins. Everything on the table was yellow. Yellow wasn’t my favorite color, but a lot of the girls coming to the party wore yellow all the time, so I thought they’d like it. And like me. I checked all my stuff at least three times. I made sure my secret night-light was pushed all the way to the bottom of my pillowcase where no one would see it. Then I walked over to the table and rearranged the napkins. Everything on the table was yellow. Yellow wasn’t my favorite color, but a lot of the girls coming to the party wore yellow all the time, so I thought they’d like it. And like me.

First Marta came in. Then Joy and Tish walked in together, helping each other carry all their sleeping stuff. I helped carry things to the corner of the room where my mom and I decided we would keep the stuff until it was time to go to sleep. First Marta came in. Then Joy and Tish walked in together, helping each other carry all their sleeping stuff. I helped carry things to the corner of the room where my mom and I decided we would keep the stuff until it was time to go to sleep. “So what are we going to do first?” Joy asked. “So what are we going to do first?” Joy asked. I looked around at all my friends. I was so excited that my party was finally happening that I almost forgot the games I had planned. I looked around at all my friends. I was so excited that my party was finally happening that I almost forgot the games I had planned.

I am going to keep in mind that the dot on the story mountain says’ ‘Her friends arrive and don’t like her games’, and I am going to remember that Gabrielle wants desperately to feel popular. I am going to keep in mind that the dot on the story mountain says’ ‘Her friends arrive and don’t like her games’, and I am going to remember that Gabrielle wants desperately to feel popular. But mostly I am just going to try to be Gabrielle. But mostly I am just going to try to be Gabrielle.

“What do you wanna do?” I asked, waving with feigned carelessness to the stack of games on the table. They’re all old, I said, hoping I’d taken the price tags and cellophane off each of them. “Twister?” Tish said, her voice incredulous. “My mom played that when she was a kid. That’s such a stupid game.” “What do you wanna do?” I asked, waving with feigned carelessness to the stack of games on the table. They’re all old, I said, hoping I’d taken the price tags and cellophane off each of them. “Twister?” Tish said, her voice incredulous. “My mom played that when she was a kid. That’s such a stupid game.” I felt the blood rise to my cheeks. “I know,” I said. “I don’t know why we even have it.” I felt the blood rise to my cheeks. “I know,” I said. “I don’t know why we even have it.”

When any fiction writer writes-we keep in mind the big plan for how a story will probably go, but we let details emerge from the specific, exact actions we take. Usually, our scenes involve two characters, and one does or says something and then the next one reacts.” When any fiction writer writes-we keep in mind the big plan for how a story will probably go, but we let details emerge from the specific, exact actions we take. Usually, our scenes involve two characters, and one does or says something and then the next one reacts.”

To continue writing our Gabrielle story, you need to be Gabrielle, gesturing with disgust at the stack of games, pretending you agree that they’re junk. You need to keep in mind that Gabrielle desperately wants to the party to go well. She’s got it all planned- the games she’s dismissing were her best hope for keeping everyone happy. To continue writing our Gabrielle story, you need to be Gabrielle, gesturing with disgust at the stack of games, pretending you agree that they’re junk. You need to keep in mind that Gabrielle desperately wants to the party to go well. She’s got it all planned- the games she’s dismissing were her best hope for keeping everyone happy.

Pretend you are Gabrielle. Picture her. The games are out on the table. The one friend has looked in disgust at Twister. What does Gabrielle do (remember- actions matter not just talk). Turn and tell your partner the next bit of the story. Pretend you are Gabrielle. Picture her. The games are out on the table. The one friend has looked in disgust at Twister. What does Gabrielle do (remember- actions matter not just talk). Turn and tell your partner the next bit of the story.

Share your stories I want to remind you that writing is a lot like drama. Once we’ve written our lead, we need to reread it and become the main character. We need to stand in the character’s shoes, to see through her eyes, to blush with her, and to hope with her. This way our readers will also be able to experience the story we put it onto the page. I want to remind you that writing is a lot like drama. Once we’ve written our lead, we need to reread it and become the main character. We need to stand in the character’s shoes, to see through her eyes, to blush with her, and to hope with her. This way our readers will also be able to experience the story we put it onto the page. You’ll probably do as I did today, and reread your lead, then turn to page 2 of your story booklet and to the second dot on your story mountain, and act out-write out-that story. You’ll probably do as I did today, and reread your lead, then turn to page 2 of your story booklet and to the second dot on your story mountain, and act out-write out-that story.