Comments on: How to Write Stories That Matter to You and Your Readers https://writersinthestormblog.com/2025/09/how-to-write-stories-that-matter-to-you-and-your-readers/ A Blog On Writing Fri, 17 Oct 2025 11:28:27 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1 By: Julia https://writersinthestormblog.com/2025/09/how-to-write-stories-that-matter-to-you-and-your-readers/#comment-173849 Fri, 17 Oct 2025 11:28:27 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=55634#comment-173849 I have read this post several times,now, and it has so much packed into it. I can see the value of following the steps and doing the exercises and the reflecting. It would greatly enrich my writing and the reader's experience of reading my stories. I just have real problems trying to describe what emotions actually physically feel like. I can recall plenty of occasions that evoked emotions - from decades ago or just this afternoon - but not how to "Write one sentence about how it felt in your body." Nevertheless, I will be keeping this post handy, because there is so much to learn here, and thank you, Lynette, for so freely sharing your insights.

]]> By: Lynette M Burrows https://writersinthestormblog.com/2025/09/how-to-write-stories-that-matter-to-you-and-your-readers/#comment-173140 Tue, 09 Sep 2025 13:27:02 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=55634#comment-173140 In reply to denise.

Thank you, Denise.

]]> By: denise https://writersinthestormblog.com/2025/09/how-to-write-stories-that-matter-to-you-and-your-readers/#comment-173131 Tue, 09 Sep 2025 05:48:46 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=55634#comment-173131 What a cool exercise.

]]> By: Lynette M Burrows https://writersinthestormblog.com/2025/09/how-to-write-stories-that-matter-to-you-and-your-readers/#comment-173130 Tue, 09 Sep 2025 04:45:15 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=55634#comment-173130 In reply to Lisa Norman.

Thank you, Lisa. I’m happy you think it’ll be helpful for you.

]]> By: Lisa Norman https://writersinthestormblog.com/2025/09/how-to-write-stories-that-matter-to-you-and-your-readers/#comment-173129 Tue, 09 Sep 2025 04:03:46 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=55634#comment-173129 Lynette - this is a master class! Wow. I can't wait to try all of these exercises. Thank you!

]]> By: Lynette M Burrows https://writersinthestormblog.com/2025/09/how-to-write-stories-that-matter-to-you-and-your-readers/#comment-173128 Tue, 09 Sep 2025 01:42:03 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=55634#comment-173128 In reply to Ellen Buikema.

Thanks, Ellen. I’m glad something resonated for you.

]]> By: Ellen Buikema https://writersinthestormblog.com/2025/09/how-to-write-stories-that-matter-to-you-and-your-readers/#comment-173126 Tue, 09 Sep 2025 00:37:33 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=55634#comment-173126 Goodness, this is a keeper! Packed with great suggestions.
The emotional vs factual truth really resonates with me.

Great post, Lynette!

]]> By: Lynette M Burrows https://writersinthestormblog.com/2025/09/how-to-write-stories-that-matter-to-you-and-your-readers/#comment-173125 Mon, 08 Sep 2025 20:25:18 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=55634#comment-173125 In reply to Alicia Butcher Ehrhardt.

Thank you. But I have to call out your comment, "The real and the fictional don't have to be the same size." Great line, Alicia.

]]> By: Alicia Butcher Ehrhardt https://writersinthestormblog.com/2025/09/how-to-write-stories-that-matter-to-you-and-your-readers/#comment-173123 Mon, 08 Sep 2025 19:57:42 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=55634#comment-173123 A whole course in a single post!

As long as you avoid being a Mary Sue in fiction! You have to be a lot more self-aware and careful than letting your autobiographical bits SHOW.

Let me say I've seen that, and mercifully leave it behind. SO embarrassing.

I lead a tiny life bound by disability and chronic illness, after being a fully-functioning human. It is frustrating.

But I've learned to take a day's tiny emotion, start up a new file in my Scrivener project, store the details - so I have new material - and then use it when I need it.

The real and the fictional don't have to be the same size.

]]> By: Lynette Burrows https://writersinthestormblog.com/2025/09/how-to-write-stories-that-matter-to-you-and-your-readers/#comment-173122 Mon, 08 Sep 2025 19:54:06 +0000 https://writersinthestormblog.com/?p=55634#comment-173122 In reply to Jenn Windrow.

Thanks, Jenn. Sounds like your world building includes a bit of self-awareness that is so internalized you don't have to "plan" for it. Yes, using bits and pieces of one's emotional background does make for more rounded and believable characters. If anyone doubts that, you should read some of Jenn's books!

Oh, and I'll take that 10/10 with a great big smile.

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