“Inside each man is a bestselling novel.”
Have you heard that saying before? I paraphrased it, I’m sure, and I don’t know who is credited with originally saying it, but that has stuck in my mind for years.
Is it true? I think in the broadest sense yes, it is a true statement. I’ve written before that we are all extraordinarily ordinary. There is a great story in each of us for sure, and that story, in the hands of a master storyteller, could be a bestselling novel.
Please note that last phrase, “in the hands of a master storyteller.” I think it’s important!
I see sunshine and beautiful colors
Anyone can tell a story. We have all done it. Hell, anyone can write a book. You just string about seventy-thousand words together in some organized fashion and you have a book.
But not everyone can write a book people would actually enjoy reading, and therein lies the rub!
Writing a good book, an enjoyable book, a desirable book, requires skill in story structure. It requires a knowledge of pacing and foreshadowing and voice and setting and dialogue. It requires vision and the ability to make that vision a cohesive piece of writing spanning multiple chapters.
I have heard it said before that there are no new ideas about books or songs. The major themes have been done, redone, and done ad nauseum for decades. Boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl, boy and girl meet obstacles, boy and girl live happily ever after. Or protagonist meets a major challenge and somehow finds a way to overcome that challenge, blah, blah, and more blah, and that’s the simple point: a skilled writer can take an overused story concept and somehow, through skill and creativity, make it so interesting that it seems brand new.
Can that ability be taught? To a certain extent, yes! I can take an average writer and make them a good writer. I might even elevate them to the “very good” level simply by working with them on the basics of writing a book. Can they elevate to “master?” That, I’m afraid, depends upon their inherent talent.
Give me a shout out if you want some coaching. Email me at holland1145@yahoo.com and let’s make that idea inside of you a coherent, interesting novel. I look forward to the challenge. I will work closely with you, for one month, for only fifty bucks. I promise you that kind of deal only comes along once in a lifetime.
Bill
“Helping writers to spread their wings and fly.”
Billybuc
Artistry With Words 
You, my friend, are a master storyteller. Have a great, Bill.
I really appreciate that, Susan! Thank you and Happy Tuesday to you.
Honestly, you are seriously the king at storytelling and agree with Susan on this. Happy Tuesday now, Bill!! 🙂
Thank you kindly, Janine! I hope your Tuesday is fantastic.
If anyone can get someone to bring out the inner novelist I know you can. I will stick to what I know which is freelance and content writing and my efforts at job bids have finally started blossoming. I have two possible job bids accepted and I am just waiting for the final details and you know what? that makes me overjoyed finally I am making my efforts worthwhile and bringing in the bacon. I also got paid by one of the sites I write on and now it is onwards and upwards. I hope you’re having a productive new week. How does the housing situation look?
Rasma, thank you for the kind words,and congratulations on those jobs….well done my friend.
There’s nothing like having a pro taking you under their wing and showing you the ropes!
I highly recommend it, Donna! 🙂
I know that boy meets girl concept. In my country, almost all movies are made on that subject. The directors, when interviewed, always say, ‘The theme is the same. But, our approach is different.” I suppose the same applies to writing too:) I suppose this holds true for a good copywriter too. They can make any product look amazing and interesting. As usual, an insightful post!
Thank you Nightlake.! As always, I appreciate your input and insights.
Bill, there is no doubt in my mind that when it comes to noting excellent writers, you are on that list. And, if anyone wants to advance from where they are now to where they want to be in the future, then they would be ever so fortunate to have you directing them to that goal.
I am currently writing a story with a co-writer and it is a fun project, to say the least, but when we are ready to get that baby published, you can be sure I will recommend to my writing partner that we run everything by you first for polishing.
You are amazing, Bill.
Thank you for your loving and caring commitment to the writing world. Anyone who has an opportunity to work with you is a very fortunate writer.
Well, Marlene, that was quite the boost to my ego. Thank you so much, my friend. I now have to live up to that glowing praise, so I better get busy.
blessings always
bill
Thanks Bill.
You are looking for some Whitman, Dickens, Bronte’s and Mark Twains’ in the making, eh? Awesome!
Early Zen Masters used to be very happy, if they got one illumined student. They were happy to die then. A very difficult task, but doable. Ha ha. Continue with Love. Best Wishes.
I like that, Manatita! Yes, one illuminated student would be superb! Hopefully sooner rather than later considering my age. 🙂
Blessings always
Bill, if anyone can spin a tale and keep those pages turning, it’s you!
Your coaching business seems to be doing well. I hope your students realize what a bargain they’re getting. It’s like eating in a five-star restaurant but only forking over the price of a Big Mac!
Have a great week, my friend. Keep those songs in your head.
Bill, if anyone can spin a tale and keep those pages turning, it’s you!
Your coaching business seems to be doing well. I hope your students realize what a bargain they’re getting. It’s like eating in a five-star restaurant but only forking over the price of a Big Mac!
Have a great week, my friend. Keep those songs in your head.
Very kind of you, Sha! I’ve never been compared to a five star restaurant. I love it!!!
Happy Wednesday and beyond, my friend.
love
bill
Dear Bill, you have such skill in your own narration, every post I have ever read from you, you engage the reader with your Story-line and dialogue, and I read right to the end.. And I am certain anyone who takes you on as a coach will benefit greatly from your knowledge.. At the moment as you know all that has been bouncing around my own head is knit one pearl two lol.. 🙂
Hope your weather soon cheers up too Bill, we have the third named storm now in succession after Storm Ciara, then Storm Dennis, now one called Storm Jorge. So bracing ourselves for high winds again… But we’ll be fine…
Have a great weekend Bill… Take care…
🙂
Thank you for your kind words, Sue! I hope when I die that people remember me, in part, as a storyteller. To me that is high praise.
Stay safe! It’s never good when they name a storm. 😦
Wishing you the best of weekend!
bill
You too 🤗
I just read Stephen King’s novel The Institute, which falls into the category of a story structure that has been used countless times before in books, films, and tv series. It reminded me a bit of the Netflix series, Stranger Things. But hey-ho I can never get enough of the evil goverment scientist conducting secret experiments and high IQ subjects with special powers. I really enjoyed The Institute and will continue to read books of the same ilk.
Greatings to you, Bill, yet another master storyteller across The Pond. By the way, I’ve just emailed you about something (all good). Hope you are having a wonderful week and not being driven up the wall by talk of Corvid 19, which I like to call “The Plague” just to wind people up. Our supermarkets are running really low on toilet paper, due to the media whipping up a frenzy. It shows what people’s priorities are these days. We were discussing last night at home, about how only a few decades ago you either had to use really hard toilet paper or newspaper for the purpose (depending upon if you were rich or poor). I suppose the really poor had to use grass and leaves! Enough of that… 😉
Sarah, you crack me up. Ten deaths in our state so far, all sixty miles north of where I live. Life goes on! I can’t say I’m too worried about it. I have no doubt it is serious, but so is the flu without antibiotics. It will all work out eventually. In the meantime I have writing to do. 🙂 They are advising us to stay home and not go to public places. Not a problem for this introvert. lol I hate crowds.
Best wishes and hugs to you, my friend. Thanks for the email. It was lovely to hear from you.
Not a problem for this introvert either. Crowds suck. I’m not too happy about singing just now. Not sure whether our planned concerts will go ahead or not. We’ll continue rehearsing.
This will crack you up. When researching for my latest book, I wanted to find out how it would sound if someone shouted whilst wearing a gasmask. By some coincidence, down the road from where I live, there’s a shop selling old wartime gasmasks, so I got the guy in the shop to put one on and shout! He thought it was great fun.
And crack me up it did,.Sarah! I’m picturing it and laughing. I have to tell you, that is some serious dedication to research, my friend. lol Well done! I would have loved to have heard that.