Nat Eliason, a writer who transitioned from SEO blogs to captivating memoirs, shares storytelling advice in this masterclass episode. He discusses developing taste, emotional depth, private equity vs. founder-driven companies, crafting promises, engaging readers, the importance of intention and obstacles, and using AI tools for writing.
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Quick takeaways
Craft scenes with tension that advance conflict and connect to character goals.
Create dialogue with adversarial elements to propel the narrative and add suspense.
Maintain a balance between realism and intrigue by infusing tension and purpose into dialogue.
Strive for continuous growth and learning in writing, embracing diverse styles and genres for inspiration.
Deep dives
Creating Intriguing Storylines
When crafting a story, the tension lies in ensuring that each scene advances the conflict or action, maintaining a direct connection to the main character's goal and the obstacles in their way. By infusing dialogues with adversarial elements, redirection, and nonverbal responses, the dialogue propels the narrative forward, adding depth and suspense. Every scene culminates in either a yes-but or no-and result, intensifying the stakes and driving the plot towards resolution.
Navigating Narrative Arcs and Emotional Weight
In writing, the progression from the beginning to the end involves orchestrating moments of change and contrast within the story. Starting with a clear end goal, whether it's a futuristic world or a technological breakthrough, allows for the development of intricate plotlines and character arcs that lead the narrative towards its envisioned destination. Connecting the dots between the start and end points involves constructing a series of events that challenge characters and evolve the storyline.
Balancing Realism and Intrigue in Writing
Achieving a balance between realism and intrigue in writing involves infusing dialogue with tension and purpose, steering away from idle conversation and embracing conflicts that push the narrative forward. By focusing on intention and obstacles within scenes, the dialogue can resonate with readers, driving engagement and curiosity. These elements provide the foundation for compelling storytelling that captivates audiences and propels them through the twists and turns of the narrative.
Crafting Compelling Characters and Plot Development
The process of reinventing one's writing style and approach involves a continuous pursuit of bridging the 'taste gap' as encapsulated by Ira Glass. Appreciating and recognizing great writing while striving to elevate one's craft remains a consistent challenge. Embracing diverse styles and genres of writing can inspire growth and development, leading to a more profound understanding of narrative intricacies and storytelling techniques.
Navigating the Struggle of Perfection
Striving for perfection in creative work can lead to a painful gap between one's aspirations and current abilities. The quest for excellence is a continuous journey as completely closing the gap may hinder learning and growth. This dilemma is exemplified through the tragic story of David Foster Wallace and his relentless pursuit of writing something 'good enough'. The key challenge lies in balancing self-criticism with a healthy perspective to foster growth and creativity.
Balancing Writing Styles for Improved Narratives
Improving narrative depth involves a strategic blend of different writing elements including action, dialogue, description, and internalization. This approach, known as 'braiding', weaves together these components seamlessly to engage readers on multiple levels. By interconnecting these storytelling elements fluidly, writers can create a more immersive and captivating experience for their audience, offering a multifaceted exploration of characters and settings.
Leveraging AI in Writing Process
Integrating AI tools like Novelcrafter in the writing process offers unique support to enhance creativity and overcome writer's block. By providing specific prompts and guidelines, writers can collaborate with AI to generate ideas, refine descriptions, and trigger inspiration. AI acts as a creative catalyst, assisting writers in refining their unique style and storytelling approach, ultimately elevating the quality and depth of their work.
Yeah, yeah, we know — “become a better storyteller”is probably the most basic writing advice out there. But this episode is far from basic. It’s all about the storytelling advice you actually need that you didn’t get in school.
Once upon a time, Nat wrote online SEO blogs: simple, generic, and kind of boring. What he really wanted was to write a memoir: something narrative, beautiful, and exciting. But his storytelling skills didn’t match his vision. So, for two years, Nat disappeared into a cave to master the art of storytelling. He emerged with Crypto Confidential, a captivating memoir that Grammarly hates and readers love. And in this episode, he reveals the not-so-basic tactics he learned as a self-made storyteller.
Want to write stories that people actually read? This episode is for you.
