Two Ways of Writing

I’ve been thinking about the writing process—specifically, that of storytelling, finding the thread of a tale and pulling to see where it might lead.

The magic of writing, when that art becomes one’s true love, is that it willingly takes the storyteller to places they had never in the past imagined.

Storytelling is the gift of opening a wardrobe and wandering into a world unlike that which we know. Right now, my mind lingers on the choices we make after entering the wardrobe.

I have met some authors who cannot tell a story if their writing process is not shrouded in secrecy; they require privacy in order to examine the details of the world that they’ve discovered.

I’m not one of these writers. I’ve discovered that I better appreciate the world in question if I have a kindred spirit with which to explore. I can write alone if I must, but I overlook much if I do not have someone with me to point out the contrasts.

It is akin to taking the hand of a fellow traveler before we enter a dark forest. This brings with it excitement as well as anticipation. I notice butterflies; I take note of them on a page, and my fellow traveler helps me work these notes into something usable.

Worlds unfold more quickly this way. Plot twists make themselves known, characters reveal things about their past that make them bolder, and—perhaps most importantly of all—I write faster, because I know where the story is headed.

I am not alone in the forest; I’m not lost.

Neither of these writing methods is better; neither can be touted as superior. People who prefer to write in privacy can, and do, produce stories that captivate. But there is a sense of peace in understanding the way that my own mind works.

What matters most, in the end, is that our readers enjoy the journeys we share and that our crafts improve. Whether we write in privacy or with a companion, we grow all the same.

Both methods result in long stories and short, escapes from the monotony of real life and trouble by allowing us to slip between pages. As writers, it is important to understand how our creative processes work; when we know how to harness our skills, we tell better stories.

As a writer, have you figured out whether you’re a “secretive storyteller,” or a writer who adventures with others? Perhaps a mix of both?

I would love to hear about your process and how it has affected your work!