Hey there! Welcome to Nothing but the Words.

I’m your Author Coach, Candice L Davis.

In episode #10, I shared how you can write a better book with stories, and in this episode, I want to share how you can make sure those stories are good. There’s a lot in this episode, but you don’t have to remember it all now. This is a rich episode. So if you can’t take notes, you can always get the transcript at CandiceLDavis.com/10.That’s Candice, ice, not ace, and the numeral 10.

Earlier today, I spoke with a new coaching client who has an idea for a business book. Because she’s been through the writing and publishing process before, she showed up with stories she can include in each chapter of her book. 

She’ll share the story of how she came to be the expert on her topics and the success she’s created for herself in her business. And in each chapter, she’ll share a representative case study from a client to illustrate that her processes really do work.

Even a how-to book or a business book should include elements of story to hook your reader. So if you’re writing personal development, professional development, or a subject-matter expert book, you need to tell stories. If you’re writing a memoir, remember your book is one long story made up of shorter stories. Every author needs to master elements of good story.

So here are some elements avoid telling a boring story and tell stories that engage your readers and make them want to keep reading.

Let me start by saying that, some of this you know unconsciously because you’ve been hearing stories all your life. You’re already doing a lot of it. 

As for the rest, once you have a casual level of knowledge about storytelling, don’t worry so much about these elements while you’re writing. These are all these you can add, delete, or change when you revise your draft.

So let’s dive in.

To write a great story, delete unnecessary details. Your stories should include details, but only if they’re relevant to the story. Only you can decide if they’re relevant or not, but if the details don’t tell us anything about the action, the person or character in the story, or the end result, question whether or not you need them.

Use specific verbs. Walk, stroll, hike, shuffle and step all have similar meanings, but they bring to mind very different images. 

Connect with the 5 senses. This won’t apply to every story, but when it does, use sight, smell, touch, sound, and taste to put the reader in the scene. If you’re writing a memoir, you’re much more likely to use all of the senses at some point.

Be specific. (bird vs sparrow, car vs red ‘69 Mustang) 

Use dialogue. Even in a case study for a how-to book, you can use quotes from the person or people in the case study. You can share a snippet from a conversation you had when you taught your client the process.

Speaking of dialogue. Limit most dialogue attributions to said or asked. Dialogue attributions are just those usually short words that tell you whose speaking. John said, “Run.” Said is the dialogue attribution. Said and asked are the simplest dialogue attributions and usually all you need.

Your writing rarely benefits from dramatic attributions like proclaimed, announced, screeched, commanded, or remarked. You might need something as simple as explained, but in most cases, the dialogue and actions speak for themselves.

Moving on from that pet peeve. Put the reader in a specific place and time. Don’t just drop us into a story. When it matters, let us know the season, the year, the time of day or night, and where we are. Even a case study should tell us when, and sometimes where, the case happened.

Show emotion. You don’t have to tell us, “I was so sad.” Show us your sadness in your actions and your dialogue.

Include action. Something has to happen in a story. And there’s usually an obstacle to overcome in the process. Show us how you quit your job to start your business, how you revamped your diet to reclaim your health, or how your client took action to put your strategies to work//

Make sure there’s a beginning, middle, and end to every story. In some stories, that takes place over as few as 3 sentences. In others, it can happen over whole chapters or the entire book.

In most stories, the main character, whether it’s you, a client, or someone else, wants something. For example, in a case study, a business coach’s client may want to increase subscription box subscriber in the beginning of the story. The client has a limited budget (the obstacle). In the middle, the coach gives the client an effective strategy that works for the client’s budget. And in the end, the client, achieves a 50% increase in subscribers. 

In a subject-matter expert book, your stories could include the story of you, the author researching and uncovering facts and making discoveries, stories of historical events or the story of XYZ. 

In a memoir, it’s especially easy to get caught up in reciting the facts and recounting events. But that’s not interesting. Show us the conflict you experienced with people, institutions and organizations, and yourself. Show us how you grew and changed.

If you have most of these elements in most of your stories, no matter what kind of book you’re writing, it will be so much easier to keep your readers reading so they get results, and in many cases, want to buy more from you.

I’m your author coach, Candice L Davis. Thanks for listening to Nothing but the Words. If you as always, I’d really appreciate a great review on iTunes 

Stay well. Go write something. and I’ll see you next time.