Tag: Novel Writing

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How My Wife’s Literary Journey is Shaping My Writing

Written 10/10/2024

Hello Dear Readers,

Over the last few months, I’ve noticed that my wife’s skill at analyzing literature has dramatically improved. After more than a decade of reading only non-fiction, she unexpectedly ventured into fiction again. Then, last year, she suddenly began to learn how to analyze literature. Along the way, she also started to learn how to write a novel, hoping she could reverse engineer works of literature one day. 

She started rereading classics she read as a teen. As people gain more knowledge and experience, their impressions of novels change drastically. She told me that her reading experience of those novels had shifted. My wife found that experience exciting. She also picked up other classics she had somehow missed reading while young. She talked about the books she had read with me. I’ve read some of her books in the past, so I shared my thoughts with her. We compared our experiences with the stories. 

Whenever something in a book piqued her interest, she researches the topic. All her findings are organized in her digital research notebook. She told me that writing about what she found out and organizing notes were the ways she retained her acquired knowledge. The method works for her. 

She still asks me questions about other books I’ve read, but she tries to understand my interpretations of literature. Our interpretations are often different since we have different knowledge and experience sets. She asked me why I interpret things that way when we have different interpretations. She also finds our differences interesting. I guess anything seems to make her curious. Her curiosity never seems to wane.

Meanwhile, I am writing a novella by taking Brandon Sanderson’s writing courses on YouTube. I’m already in several classes. It amazes me that we can learn anything from YouTube. He formally learned at University, so he gave us many valuable tips on writing. I always thought Sanderson was extremely good at developing his characters. I adore all the characters he has in the Stormlight Archives series. The course intends for people to write a novella by the time you finish the course. My wife told me she would take the course after completing the U.S. citizenship exam. 

I’ve already started working on my novel. My wife is learning literature criticism while she does all her research on books she is reading, taking note of any techniques she finds interesting in them. If I ever complete writing a story draft, I will ask my wife to help me improve by adding her thoughts. With her growing expertise in literature analysis, she can help me turn it into something truly worthwhile.

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We Got a New Book To Learn How To Write

Written August 7, 2024

Hello Dear Readers,

Today, my wife received a book she had eagerly ordered, and the excitement on her face was unmistakable as soon as I handed it to her. The book in question is Save The Cat! by Blake Snyder, a highly regarded guide in storytelling. She’s been diligently studying how to craft a compelling narrative, dreaming of publishing her own novel one day. This book is another step in her journey toward that goal.

Save The Cat! isn’t just any book on writing; it’s known for offering a structured approach to storytelling that has proven successful across different media. While it doesn’t provide a cookie-cutter formula that fits every novel, it does offer a framework that can be adapted to various genres. We discovered that some Japanese manga companies encourage their authors to adopt a similar structured style. This approach makes it easier to adapt their stories into other formats, like dramas, movies, or anime. The idea of writing with such flexibility in mind is something my wife finds particularly fascinating as she considers how her future work could transcend traditional formats.

In addition to exploring Save The Cat!, my wife and I often find ourselves engrossed in the ‘Writing Excuses’ podcast hosted by Brandon Sanderson and a group of other talented authors. The podcast is a treasure trove of insights into the craft of writing, and it’s where we first started deepening our understanding of storytelling. We’re both huge fans of Brandon Sanderson’s books, which is what initially drew us to the podcast. The episodes are rich with practical advice, lively discussions, and expert opinions on various aspects of writing—from character development to world-building.

For my wife, the podcast has become more than just a source of inspiration. She sees it as a vital tool for learning not just how to write but also how to read critically. Although her primary focus is on nonfiction, the podcast has helped her analyze the books she reads with a more discerning eye. This analytical approach is something she applies to her own writing, using the lessons learned from fiction to enhance her nonfiction work.

I’m particularly intrigued by Save The Cat! because it presents a clear and practical structure for creating engaging stories. The method Snyder outlines has been used successfully by countless writers, not just in novels but in screenplays and other forms of storytelling. As someone who also aspires to write a book one day, I believe this resource could be instrumental in helping us both achieve our writing goals.

In our shared journey toward becoming published authors, every tool and piece of advice we gather brings us closer to realizing our dreams. Save The Cat! feels like a significant addition to our writer’s toolkit, and I’m excited to see how it will influence our work in the future.