If you’ve hung around My Book Therapy for any length of time, you know we focus a lot on crafting a novel.

If you’re new to MBT, we are about crafting a novel.

Dictionary.com defines craft as:

1. an art, trade, or occupation requiring special skill, especially manual skill: the craft of a mason.
2. skill; dexterity: The silversmith worked with great craft.

Let’s tailor the definition a bit.

The writer must possess a special skill to ply his trade. The writer worked with great craft.

The statistic is 80% of all people believe they  have a book in them. How many do you suppose actually write that book?

My guess is less than 20%. Why? Time, heart, passion, skill, talent. Resistance and procrastination.

Above all, lack of knowledge which means lack of craft.

Recently I started taking piano lessons. My teacher is starting off with music theory. I find myself sitting at the kitchen island, filling in music scale worksheets.

C D E F G A B C

Gb Ab Bb Cb Db E F Gb (oy, that one made my head hurt.)

On my run yesterday, I was imaging the keys and scales in my head, playing different ones in my mind.

But guess what, I’ve been playing songs and chords for ten years. I can play almost any worship song. I can even lead worship from the keyboard.

But I’m not skilled and I’m limited to what I know. I can’t “fill in” notes to add to the song. I’ve no beauty in my playing.

Now that I’m learning theory and how the notes and chords go together, I’ll be able to get creative with my playing! I guess you could say I’m learning the craft of music, of playing the piano.

Most of you can write. Writing is a core element of the human existence. We have to know how to write notes, emails, letters, papers, etc.

Communication is also another key component of the human experience. “Oh my gosh, let me tell you what happened to me today…” And our audience is rapt.

But how do you combine writing and communication to tell a story?

CRAFT.

It’s more than sitting down and putting words together. I’ve read a bunch of those stories and the lack of craft has killed a few great premises.

Don’t just pound out a story, craft one!

So, what are the basics of story telling?

1. A great character. An ordinary person doing something extraordinary.
2. A character we can identify with – one we root for.
3. A reason to tell this particular story. What has happened in the character’s life that makes you write about them now?
4. A dark wound, lie and fear that drives the character, or motivates him, but a secret desire (true identity) that must be released. This is what causes the protagonist to overcome the fear and lie, and heal the wound.
5. A story question. What is this story about?
6. A story journey? The protagonist is going here to do that and will learn this while finding the truth and epiphany of his life. He’ll face a black moment but will overcome with this and have a happily ever after ending. Okay, at least a satisfactory one.
7. A one or two line pitch (hook) that encompasses the story.
8. An over all spiritual theme. “It’s about realizing who we are in Jesus we can never go back to who we were before.”

These are just a few craft teasers to remind you to craft your book. Don’t wing it too much.

Writing a book is a lot like sculpting. We start with a lump of an idea and we begin to mold it. As we work the clay or stone, an image appears. Then we have to go back over it again and fine tune, sculpt. More of the image appears. Then we have to get out the fine tools to shape or chisel. At least, we see the whole story image. Then we polish and perfect.

Be patient as you write this NaNoWriMo. Craft a story and watch it develop. Even though you’re writing fast without going back and editing, it doesn’t mean you stop crafting!! Take a few minutes to think about the SHARP and FOCUS of your scenes before you pound them out! You’ll be glad you did in the end.

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Best-selling, award-winning author Rachel Hauck loves a great story. She excels in seeing the deeper layers of a story. With a love for teaching and mentoring, Rachel comes alongside writers to help them craft their novel. A worship leader, board member of ACFW and popular writing teacher, Rachel is the author of over 15 novels. She lives in Florida with her husband and her dog, Lola. Contact her at: Rachel@mybooktherapy.com.

Go forth and write!

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Do you need help with your story idea, synopsis or proposal? How about some one-on-one craft coaching. Check out our menu of services designed to help you advance your writing dreams.