We Learned the Basics of Strong Writing and Storytelling Through Storytelling Essay Example

author’s writing style. That’s not to say they don’t have opinions about the story. Any reader could tell you whether they enjoyed a book or found the characters boring or the opening chapters too slow.

But most readers don’t assume the role of a book reviewer or critic and dig deep into the why behind the what. They simply move on to the next novel they’re eager to consume. Reading critically takes this to the next level. You become that book reviewer or critic and analyze what did or didn’t make a story tick.

This process doesn’t have to be as intimidating as it might sound. In fact, there’s no right or wrong way to consume critically. Analyzing a single passage can prove just as valuable in developing your writing and storytelling skills as breaking down the quality of an entire book. Some writers take the latter approach, critiquing the quality of a book based on common story elements such as plot structure, character development, and theme. Doing so is a fantastic way to analyze how established authors treat the elements of the craft in their work and to learn how to apply their techniques to your own stories. Writers who critique on this scale often share their reviews online through their websites, newsletters, or review sites such as Goodreads.

You can do this too if you’d like. But you don’t need to write a review to critique a book. You can just as easily spend a few moments analyzing the story’s elements or swapping thoughts with a fellow reader or writer. Joining a book club is another great way to consume critically. Some novels even include questions

to guide book club conversation in their back-matter.

Don’t hesitate to use these questions as the basis for your critique. Some writers prefer to draw a line between reading for enjoyment and reading for intentional growth. Instead of critiquing a book, they select one to study when they’re eager to improve a specific skill. For example, a writer might review passages from several popular books in their genre to better understand how to craft engaging action scenes. This targeted approach to consuming critically can result in the more direct development of your writing and storytelling skills.

It’s perfectly okay to take either or both of these approaches to consume critically. You get to decide which is right for you based on your schedule, your preferences, and the skills you’re seeking to improve. To set yourself up for a successful critical reading experience, here are four tips to bear in mind.

Set Aside Time for Critical Reading

You don’t need to be the world’s most prolific reader to benefit from both the passive and active growth that reading can provide.

But as a writer, books are the end product of your craft. If you aren’t reading them, how can you expect to excel in writing your own? Use the tips in chapter 7 on making time to write, and apply them when making time to read. Carving out time for reading, even if only for ten minutes a day or an hour per week, is essential to your success as a writer. Tip 2: Acquaint Yourself with the Elements of the Craft To analyze a story, you must first understand what you’re critiquing. If you’ve never studied the craft

of writing before, now is the time to do so. As you learn the mechanics of great writing and storytelling, you might also find it helpful to study popular book reviews on Amazon or Goodreads to gain a stronger understanding of how to analyze these mechanics.

Approach Critical Reading with an Eye for Personal Gain

When reading critically, remember that your intention is to improve the quality of your writing and storytelling. The techniques and stylistic choices that benefit one best-selling book might not prove effective in your own or align with your personal tastes, so be mindful as you apply what you learn to your work. That’s not to say you should only critique books within your genre or writing style. In fact, you can learn something from any story you consume. But as you consider how to implement those lessons in your work, ensure you’re doing so because the change is best for you and your stories.

Critique Unpublished Work

Serving as a critique partner or beta reader for a fellow writer is a fantastic way to gain experience with analyzing stories. Works in progress are often easier to critique because their rough edges are more apparent, which can help you develop your writing analysis skills and better understand which elements of your own story need work. See chapter 17 for more information on working with a critique partner or beta reader.

Critique Stories in Other Mediums

Unless you’re writing for a visual or auditory medium, the written word should remain your primary focus when consuming critically.

However, there’s plenty to learn from stories in any format. The next time you watch a favourite movie or

download a new podcast serial, use the same principles we discussed earlier to analyze how the creators brought their stories to life.