When authors gather it seems there is always someone, often
new to writing, who questions why a well-written novel (like his or her own 😁) fails to make
significant sales, while a novel written in an unorthodox style or rudimentary pros
can be a best-seller. Of course, many factors can influence a novel’s success;
like if your book was featured in Oprah's book club, but I think for a novel to be successful, it needs to connect
emotionally with an audience.
When I read the first Harry Potter novel, “Sorcerer’s Stone”, I was taken
aback at J.K. Rowlings’ writing style, thinking it was below my grade level. I read the story long ago and remember little of the
plotline. However, I do remember that Harry had to sleep in a tiny room built under
the stairs, and live with foster parents that treated him poorly. I remember a young
orphan, trying to piece together his life, while malevolent forces were
gathering around him. Rowlings masterfully seeded the
story with brief glimpses of his parents and and the mystery
surrounding them. Like millions of readers of all ages, I was entranced in the story.
Another book comes to mind, “News of the World”, by Paulette Jiles. In this story Captain
Jefferson Kyle Kidd is a professional newspaper reader who, shortly after the civil war, goes from town to
town in Texas reading the News of the
World, newpaper aloud on street
corners, collecting dimes from his listeners. After a reading in Wichita Falls, he is
asked to take a young girl, who had been captured and raised by Kiowa Indians back to her only relatives in San Antonio. The young girl
speaks no English and identifies completely with her Kiowa upbringing. The trip to San Antonio takes several weeks and they
encounter many adventures that serve to break the barriers between the hardened
ex-army officer and savage girl. When he finally drops the girl off
with her uncle, the Captain realizes that they would be an abusive family and
in a crowning moment he steals the child back and fosters her himself.
At first, I found the writing to be strange. The
syntax and style echoed rural Texas. Much of
the punctuation was omitted, including quotation marks. Those thoughts were
short lived. Paulette Jiles welds together a touching and exciting relationship between the unlikely travelers that had me eagerly turning the pages.
Writing fiction is a creative exercise and there are
infinite ways for authors to put words to paper. It is just— that sometimes the
words reach out touch the reader. For this, I can only offer that you must feel
the emotion as you write it. I read somewhere: “If you don’t feel it, no one else
will.” I took that to mean: if you don’t get a tear in the eye or lump in your
throat as you write, neither will the reader. And this isn’t just for sad
stories. Your comedy better make you laugh and your action better get your
heart racing. Feeling the words deeply yourself is your chance of reaching out
to a reader. I used to joke when I was writing commercial brochures that I was
really writing poetry. It just wasn’t in verses and didn’t rhyme. Okay, it also wasn’t very emotional either, but I was trying to connect with a inreader. Now that I have learned
this valuable secret; do I have a best-seller? No. But I believe these words and I am feeling the dream
when I write and enjoying it.
William H Russeth
Check out my books on Amazon.
William H Russeth
Check out my books on Amazon.
