Writing story that matters: themes, techniques and voice

These were some notes (not complete) I took down when listening to a lecture given by Susanne Gervey, a writer.

Kids read different from adults: They read and re-read and re-read.

Write very purposely. Write stories for youngsters to engage in when they choose.

“I’ve read Butterflies every year from 14. And it’s different every year.”

Mistake of many writers: TELL young people what to do.

The cave: when Susanne’s son went to survival camps (17yr old)

Why boys seek packs (of kids)? What is this pack capacity of violence? – pack behavior <> leadership, true values

Write with sole & heart.

Boy/Girls: same journey of self-discovery but different ways to explore it.

Writing a short story:

• Theme: something you care about and you are familiar with
• Characters: Never more than a few when dealing with a story of a few hundred words. The characters have to change at the end of the story.
• Opening: Start with immediate emotional engagement
• Ending: Don’t look for a trick, but find a satisfactory answer to the question raised in the story
• Descriptions are there for a purpose. Do not use verbose descriptions that serve nothing.

Telling a story:

• Love your story.
• Believe in it and have courage.
• Don’t think about the audience.

Trimming down the story (for length requirement):

• Cut the plot