Great Fiction: Start With "What if..."
Hello readers, and happy hot July…
I’m writing a book right now (headed toward the finish line, hoping to nail the ending), and trying to keep the story moving quickly.
I’m remembering this piece of writing advice:
Start with a “what if” question.
What if two fourth-grade boys prank their strict principal, Mr. Krupp, by hypnotizing him? What if when they snap their fingers, he turns into Captain Underpants - the hero of their self-written comic books that Mr. Krupp confiscated!
What if there was a mouse who loved his little motorcycle and the only way to keep the motorcycle safe was to go to school with his pal, Ryan?
What if you spent every summer on a private island with your beautiful, perfect family, only to wake up to a foggy memory of a terrible accident and a devastating secret about the people you love most in the world - and that you, yourself, are the biggest liar of all?
What if a painful divorce leaves you adrift and so you embark on a year-long journey to rediscover pleasure, spiritual devotion, and balance, ultimately finding your way back to loving yourself? Also, what if you pray and eat a lot?
Do you recognize these stories?
The “what if” question gets to THE STORY right away, and in fiction (and even memoir), story trumps all. "Meaning” or “message” is simply a by-product of a story well told.
“What if” lets the reader experience and feel and live the story, too, instead of feeling like the writer is preaching or “hitting us over the head” with a lesson (ugh!)
To write great fiction means to trust that meaning will emerge as we put our unique and complicated characters in sticky, messy, complicated situations. They will - or they won’t - find their way out (which already sound like a good story to me!)
I have to be reminded of “what if” and “story first” again and again.
When you’re writing for kids, it’s tempting to start thinking about “imparting wisdom” or “what kids need right now” or even the adults who will first read and recommend your book before they buy or give it to a child. But this mindset can easily get in the way of the most important thing: the story.
Story is what I was reminded of when reading Captain Underpants. I was instantly delighted. I laughed. It was funny and so real. I was back in third grade again. Glorious.
Was there meaning? Yes, it’s there! But it’s the “what if” that keeps you turning the pages. And wow, who knew that meaning could be found with a wedgie? hahaha.
STORY FIRST. Always, last, and always.
What’s your “what if”?
Amy 💖
writing stories is easy. said no one ever.Shop my favorite “what if” stories at BookShop.org and get free shipping for (anti-) Prime1 Day!!!!
The Last Part:Sibling Shenanigan Books for Summer: featuring The McNifficents! Thank you,
My Heart: breaks for Texas…NPR reporting
Pixar: what happens when “messaging” overtakes story…? (it’s not good)
Ran: a 5k with the family for the Fourth of July! Me and Cope placed first in our age groups, but COPE IS 37 WEEKS PREGNANT, whut?!?
Painting: I’ve fallen off the wagon. again.
Wearing: Chaco’s. All.Summer.Long.
Re-reading: We Were Liars, Ralph S. Mouse, Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great
If you’d like to support my work with a paid yearly subscription, I will gratefully send you a signed copy of any one of my books 🙏 and then I will do cartwheels because you have made MY YEAR of writing possible <3
The Unforgettable Guinevere St. Clair is part-mystery, part understanding of the human heart 💖
Ten Thousand Tries is Golden’s quest to save his dad and the soccer team ⚽
The McNifficents is one summer with six rambunctious kids and their miniature-schnauzer nanny 🐕 New Hampshire’s 2024 Great Reads for Kids selection!
1I haven’t broken up with Amazon, but I do like to support local bookstores by buying my books from them!
