Linda K Sienkiewicz

  • Home
  • Bio
  • Blog
  • Fiction
  • Children’s
  • Poetry
  • News
  • Etc.
    • Press Kit
    • Events
    • Art
    • Publishing Credits and Awards
  • Social Media
  • Email
You are here: Home / Writing / The Heart of Storytelling

The Heart of Storytelling

June 17, 2019 By Linda K Sienkiewicz

Storytelling Image by Mystic Art Design on Pixabay

These fabulous “rules” (I prefer to call them writing tips) for storytelling were handed out at a recent conference, with credit to Pixar Story Artist Emma Coats. I refer to them often, so I thought I’d share.

Start storytelling!

Once upon a time there was _________. Every day, ________. Because of that, _________. Because of that, ________. Until finally, __________.

THEME: Trying for a theme is important, but you many not see what the
story is actually about till you write the end.

ENDINGS: Try writing the ending before you finish the middle. Endings are hard; get yours working upfront.

What’s the essence of your story? The most economical telling of it? If you know that, you can build from there.

Why must you tell THIS story? What’s the belief burning within you that feeds your story? That’s the heart of it.

Putting it on paper lets you start fixing it. If it stays in your head, like a perfect idea, you’ll never share it with anyone.

Focus on Characters

What is your character good at, comfortable with? Throw the opposite at them. Challenge them. How do they deal?

Give your characters opinions. Passive or malleable might seem likable, but it’s poison to the audience.

If you were your character, in this situation, how would you feel? Honesty lends credibility to unbelievable situations.

What are the stakes? Give us a reason to root for the characters. Stack the odds against them.

Coincidences to get characters into trouble are great; coincidences to get them out of it are are cheating.

Most people admire characters for trying more than for their successes.

storytelling

Use crafting skills

When you’re stuck, make a list of what WOULDN’T happen next. Lots of times the material to get you unstuck will show up.

Pull apart or analyze the stories you like. What you like in them is a part of you; you’ve got to recognize it before you can use it.

Simplify. Focus. Combine characters if there are too many. Hop over detours. You may feel like you’re losing valuable stuff but it sets you free.

Discount the first thing that comes to mind. And the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th — get the obvious out of the way. Surprise yourself (and you’ll surprise your reader).

No work is ever wasted. If it’s not working, let go and move on–it’ll come back around to be useful later.

You have to learn the difference between doing your best and fussing. Story is testing, not refining.


Thank you for visiting.

Linda K. Sienkiewicz is a writer, poet, and artist:
Multi-finalist award winning novel In the Context of Love
Picture book Gordy and the Ghost Crab

Latest poetry chapbook: Sleepwalker

Connect with Linda: LinkTree

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • More
  • Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

Filed Under: Writing Tagged With: characters, crafting, fiction writing, storytelling, writing tips

Comments

  1. Cynthia Harrison says

    June 18, 2019 at 9:10 am

    Great tips, Linda. I need all the help I can get right now.

    • Linda K Sienkiewicz says

      June 19, 2019 at 5:25 pm

      I’m glad they’re helpful. We all struggle sometimes. You’ll break through it!

About Linda

Award- winning writer, poet & artist. Cynical optimist. Super klutz. Corgi fan. Author of two novels, a picture book which she wrote and illustrated, and five poetry chapbooks. More here.

Follow this Blog

Enter your email address to subscribe to Linda's blog...

Categories

  • Agents & Querying (7)
  • Art & Crafting (20)
  • Books (69)
  • Grief and Loss (19)
  • In the Context of Love (14)
  • It's Personal (230)
  • Publicity & Marketing (33)
  • What, Why, How (163)
  • Writing (112)

Let’s Connect!

Subscribe to my newsletter and never miss a giveaway, fun event, or an announcement!

Search this blog

Top Posts

  • Proper use of "I" and "Me" - Grammar Basics
  • Book Art: Crafting Paper Roses
  • Blackout Poetry - as creative as you want to get
  • Gen Z “Chaos Theory” Fashion
  • Quick Bicycle Helmet Visor How-to
  • What's so special about Howard Street?

Blog Tags

Agents anxiety art books children's books childrens books Christmas Clementine corgi crafting creativity Detroit dogs family fantasy Fiction grammar grief Historical Fiction humor idol talk loss love marketing memoir motivation Music mystery nonfiction novel pandemic poet poetry Publishing reading romance sewing sexual assault shame short stories social media storytelling suicide writing writing tips
  • Home
  • Bio
  • Blog
  • Adult Fiction
  • Children’s
  • Recent News
  • Poetry
  • Art

Recent Blog Posts

  • What, Why, How: Poet Karin Hoffecker
  • Dinner with Elmore Leonard (sort of)
  • Beyond the Smile: Elevating Character and Emotions in Writing
  • A (Mostly) Clean Challenge: Writing a Novel with Minimal Profanity
  • The entertaining side of Chat GPT
  • Yous got the last laugh: How my husband’s favorite pronoun was vindicated
  • What, Why, How: author Kate Woodworth
  • Magical Realism: Blurring the Lines Between Reality and Wonder

Blog Tags

Agents anxiety art books children's books childrens books Christmas Clementine corgi crafting creativity Detroit dogs family fantasy Fiction grammar grief Historical Fiction humor idol talk loss love marketing memoir motivation Music mystery nonfiction novel pandemic poet poetry Publishing reading romance sewing sexual assault shame short stories social media storytelling suicide writing writing tips

Search

Let’s Connect!

Subscribe to my newsletter and never miss a giveaway, important event, or publishing announcement!

  • Home
  • Bio
  • Blog
  • Fiction
  • Children’s
  • Poetry
  • News
  • Etc.
  • Social Media
  • Email

Copyright © 2025 · Website design & development by Little Leaf

%d