Skip to content
BOOKPLACES
BOOKPLACES

Reading Books and Writing Words

  • Welcome To My Blog
  • WHAT DOES A WRITER DO?
  • Writing Resources
BOOKPLACES
BOOKPLACES

Reading Books and Writing Words

How Can A Writer Make Their Stories More Entertaining?

skcasta, July 9, 2018
streetcar Marlon Brando

“I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.”

Blanche DuBois (Vivien Leigh)  A Streetcar Named Desire, 1951

Telling Stories: Part Two

Webster’s Dictionary defines the word story primarily as a noun: an account of an incident or event; a statement regarding the facts pertinent to a situation in question; an anecdote; a narrative; a legend. There are other definitions of the word story, but I will discuss the first one today.

A story is an account or retelling of an incident or event. If someone says they witnessed an event such as a wedding, they would relate details in order to make the story interesting to the listener. While the statement, “I went to a wedding” is technically a story, it is pretty boring. The person you are telling the story to would want to hear many details. Where was the wedding located? What did the bride’s dress look like? How many attendants did she have, if any? What color were the bridesmaids’ dresses? Was it a religious service or civil service? What religion? What did the groom wear? Did they write their own vows? What about the parents of the couple-did they attend the wedding? If not, why not? Did their relatives and friends show up? And the reception: Where was it located? Did they have a band or a DJ, or no entertainment? What type of food was served? Did they go on a honeymoon? Where? Some of your listeners might want to hear secret details that only a few are aware of, or even gossip about the wedding. Depending on the person who hears about the event, the type, number and details may vary. Someone might want to hear every detail you can remember. Another may want to hear just the main facts. The discussion of the color of the bridesmaids’ dresses could go on as long as the storyteller and listener want to continue it.
You, as the storyteller, might embellish the details without lying. Embellishment means that instead of saying the bridesmaids’ dresses were light blue, you could instead give your opinion or viewpoint about the color. You could say the color reminded you of the old hospital rooms from the 1930s where your aunt used to work as a nurse. You might further add that you will always recall the color from your visits to your elderly great-grandfather who was confined there due to Alzheimer’s.
Another way to spice up your story of the wedding would involve your perception of the people and their actions. Your listener would ask you about how a certain guest acted, or maybe your view of the mother of the groom’s attitude. These perceptions of yours concerning the attitudes and actions of the guests may be desired from the person hearing your story. Maybe they will ask you to give your thoughts on the day. Do you think the couple has a chance for a happy marriage, or do you think the man and woman are too different to have a successful union?
According to what you witnessed at the wedding, you may add to the story by recounting other details that your listener did not ask for. While adding details such as these to your story change it from bland to lively, you are not lying. Lying would be to tell untruths and then present them as true. If you say that the reception was held at the beach, but it really took place in a small town seventy miles away from the water, then you are lying in your story. Saying that the groom’s sister hit the bride is untrue if all that happened was that the sister bumped into the bride in the dressing room. As a storyteller, you want to give an account of an event or incident, whether you simply say the facts or make your story interesting by using details. But in the end, it’s up to you, the writer, to make those decisions. Remember, the writer is always in control and has the power to write an entertaining story.
I will discuss some of the other definitions of the word story in another post.

Share this:

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

Uncategorized

Post navigation

Previous post
Next post

Hello! I would love for you to leave a reply!Cancel reply

Goodreads

Writers

Sylvia Plath
Sylvia Plath
Emily Dickinson
Emily Dickinson
Juan Rulfo
Juan Rulfo
Frida Kahlo
Frida Kahlo
George Orwell
George Orwell
Jane Kenyon
Jane Kenyon
Gwyneth Lewis
Gwyneth Lewis
Gwyneth Lewis poet
jennifer Wong
jennifer Wong

Community

  • ivor20
  • Hugh W. Roberts
  • Bogdan Dragos
  • Tina Stewart Brakebill
  • Paul Martz
  • presidentjojo
  • dgkaye
  • Dan Antion
  • inkdropk
  • DL Mullan/Undawntech
  • Ken Chawkin
  • tenzenmen
  • yvettemcalleiro
  • Cheryl
  • Sarah M.
  • pk 🌎
  • Marsha
  • cheriewhite
  • L Lee Kane
  • K Morris Poet
  • Art of Blogging
  • Andrew McDowell
  • memadtwo
  • johnrieber
  • bauerj1138
  • Miriam Hurdle
  • ellisnelson
  • Fox Reviews Rock
  • Forestwood
  • janetstockwriter
  • Gumnam city
  • Kay Castaneda
  • DL Mullan
  • M. Menny
  • Epignosis Inspirations
  • Cindy Georgakas
  • Jane Risdon
  • Colleen Chesebro
  • Jacqui Murray
  • thomasstigwikman
  • Goals and Good Vibes
  • petespringer
  • robbiesinspiration
  • Jade Edge
  • Sunil Mehra
  • tidalscribe.com
  • davidlonan1
  • angelarigley
  • Lea Ryan
  • Marje @ Kyrosmagica

Contact Us

kay@whiteriverwriters.com

Facebook

Comments Box SVG iconsUsed for the like, share, comment, and reaction icons
Cover for Kay Castaneda, Author
490
Kay Castaneda, Author

Kay Castaneda, Author


AUTHOR

Kay Castaneda, Author
16 hours ago
Kay Castaneda, Author

You can read my latest post on my blog.

... See MoreSee Less

Link thumbnail

Short Sweet Life - BOOKPLACES

bookplaces.blog

BOOKPLACES Short Sweet Life
View on Facebook
· Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
View Comments
  • likes 0
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 0
Kay Castaneda, Author
1 week ago
Kay Castaneda, Author

bookplaces.blog/i-am-your-guardian-angel-stephen/ ... See MoreSee Less

Link thumbnail

I Am Your Guardian Angel Stephen - BOOKPLACES

bookplaces.blog

BOOKPLACES I Am Your Guardian Angel Stephen
View on Facebook
· Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
View Comments
  • likes 1
  • Shares: 1
  • Comments: 0
Kay Castaneda, Author
3 weeks ago
Kay Castaneda, Author

Why I Keep Trying Even If I’m Too Sick to Go On

... See MoreSee Less

Link thumbnail

Why I Keep Trying Even If I’m Too Sick to Go On - BOOKPLACES

bookplaces.blog

BOOKPLACES Why I Keep Trying Even If I’m Too Sick to Go On
View on Facebook
· Share
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email
View Comments
  • likes 1
  • Shares: 0
  • Comments: 1
Load more

TWITTER

Kay Castaneda Author Follow 622 1,844

Author of Emmie of Indianapolis, historical fiction set in the Midwest. WIP is a mystery series. Go to @kay_castaneda for my opinion on the world. 📒👩🏻‍🎓🎄

KCastanedauthor
KCastanedauthor avatar Kay Castaneda Author @KCastanedauthor ·
14h 1951546175653335422

My latest post is now published on my blog. Thanks!

Image for twitter card

Short Sweet Life - BOOKPLACES

BOOKPLACES Short Sweet Life

bookplaces.blog

Reply on Twitter 1951546175653335422 Retweet on Twitter 1951546175653335422 0 Like on Twitter 1951546175653335422 0 Twitter 1951546175653335422
KCastanedauthor avatar Kay Castaneda Author @KCastanedauthor ·
2 Jul 1940297338461069648

Now is your best chance to find my book, Emmie of Indianapolis: The Story of an American Girl, available for $1.49 at @Smashwords as part of their Annual Summer/Winter Sale! Find my book all month! #SWSale2025

Image for twitter card

Emmie of Indianapolis: The Story of an American Girl

In 1963, a young teenage girl moves with her mother and sisters from the suburbs to the downtown of a Midweste...

www.smashwords.com

Reply on Twitter 1940297338461069648 Retweet on Twitter 1940297338461069648 0 Like on Twitter 1940297338461069648 2 Twitter 1940297338461069648
KCastanedauthor avatar Kay Castaneda Author @KCastanedauthor ·
10 May 1921127392782733584

To the Young Who Want to Die. Remember, green's your color.
Gwendolyn Brooks
Beautiful, beautiful.

To the Young Who Want to Die.  Remember, green's your color.
Gwendolyn Brooks
Beautiful, beautiful.
preorder FENESTRATION @Othuke__Umukoro

Remember, green’s your color.

—Gwendolyn Brooks

Reply on Twitter 1921127392782733584 Retweet on Twitter 1921127392782733584 0 Like on Twitter 1921127392782733584 6 Twitter 1921127392782733584
KCastanedauthor avatar Kay Castaneda Author @KCastanedauthor ·
24 Nov 1860608229870272810

What Should We Name This War?
I hate war
Yet rich men love it
I am right
you are wrong
guns tanks bombs your side my side
only death and blood

Kay Castaneda

Shadorma-a Spanish poetic form of six-line stanzas, or sestets, and a syllable count for each line: (3/5/3/3/7/5).

Reply on Twitter 1860608229870272810 Retweet on Twitter 1860608229870272810 0 Like on Twitter 1860608229870272810 6 Twitter 1860608229870272810
Load More
  • August 2025
  • July 2025
  • June 2025
  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • April 2021
  • February 2021
  • November 2020
  • July 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • October 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • Short Sweet Life
  • I Am Your Guardian Angel Stephen
  • Memoirs of a Shark
  • Let’s Go To The Museum: Apollinaire and His Friends
  • Review of Night’s Redemption by Stephen Bentley
Subscribe to Bookplaces Blog to get the latest posts.

©2025 BOOKPLACES | WordPress Theme by SuperbThemes
%d