Is Good Writing Enough?

I always thought I was a good writer.

After all, I’ve been told that countless times in my life.

As a kid, I often expressed myself with words, whether it was a play I wrote and forced my siblings to perform in our basement or a family newsletter I created, called The Bobbsey Bulletin, named for the famed Bobbsey Twins book series. (Yeah, go ahead and look it up. I'm that old!) In 7th grade, a favorite English teacher bragged about a book report I wrote and then read it aloud to the class. At 14, I won a poetry contest and was published in a Philadelphia newspaper.

In college, I became editor-in-chief of the campus newspaper.

When I entered the workforce, however, it became clear to me that I was no literary prodigy. Sure, I had some decent skills and lots of motivation to write, but I was much closer to average than my delicate ego cared to admit.

Still, that didn’t dissuade me. I worked several jobs and engaged in numerous creative endeavors that helped hone my skills, and I am still writing today (the proof is right here on this screen!).

What It Takes

In thinking about novel-writing, being a "good writer" was—to my mind—a prerequisite. So when I decided to give that particular goal a try and joined several writers' groups and online forums, I was surprised to discover that most novel writers pride themselves on their storytelling skills rather than writing skills.

Interesting.

This was a new concept for me. Because despite my years penning all sorts of professional and creative things, I never really considered myself a storyteller. And there is definitely a difference between knowing how to effectively put words together and knowing how to build a story that makes people want to keep reading.

Now, my grandfather was a storyteller! When he spoke, he commanded the room. Often, he would sit at the kitchen table, pull out a handkerchief, slowly begin polishing his glasses or even a water-stained spoon, and then launch into a captivating tale that left his audience hanging on every word.

For some reason, I didn’t inherit those genes. Whenever I speak, people start off listening but inevitably look over my shoulder seeking an exit or a fitting excuse to move away. I have the gift of gab but not for storytelling.

When other writers talk about having ideas swirling in their minds at all hours of the day, I just want to cry. I mean, yes, my mind spins all the time, but it isn’t with a plethora of glorious narratives begging to be written down and fleshed out until they become incredible stories for all the world to fawn over.

Starting with Prompts

Coming up with an idea is the hardest part for me. I like prompts to get the creative juices flowing. But it's not that simple.

Consider this prompt:

“Write a story about a poor boy who falls in love with a rich girl.”

Did Nicholas Sparks read this just before he sat down and wrote The Notebook?

Or this:

“Write a story about a husband who is accused of his wife’s murder.”

Is that all it took for Gillian Flynn to come up with Gone Girl?

Of course not. Writing a novel is no small undertaking.

Novels are complicated stories with many layers, characters, subplots, and twists. Even though a prompt might kickstart a writer's creativity, turning a premise into a novel requires storytelling skills.

I Actually Wrote One!

Yes, it's true! I finished a novel! This fact is a point of pride. Even though I don’t consider myself a true storyteller, the premise and details of my novel somehow materialized and lived rent-free in my brain for many years. And once I had the story, putting pen to paper (or, in my case, fingers to keyboard) was much easier.

I guess what I’m getting at is that I don’t really know which part is more important when writing fiction: being a good writer or being a good storyteller. 

And as a neurodivergent (ND) writer, this bothers me more than it should because I feel like there should be some kind of formula for writing a novel. Like a recipe with its required list of ingredients. Or a math equation: [(characters x plot) + (dialogue + description)] x one huge twist = A NOVEL. Recipes and formulas can be followed. An equation can be solved. 

Obviously, writing doesn’t work that way.

So, where does that leave me? Am I a good writer? A good storyteller? Some awkward combination of the two?

I have no idea.

What I do know is that the only way something gets written is to just keep writing.

That's as close to a formula as there is.

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About the author: Karen is a writer, teacher, audiobook lover, and Wordle enthusiast from New Jersey. She has ADHD and OCD and dreams of becoming a better storyteller. Her favorite activities are spoiling her granddaughters, traveling to warm climates, snort-laughing with friends, and sipping a good Cosmopolitan. Visit her online at www.karenkinley.com.