Make your stories more realistic by using things that don't exist? | TRY THIS TECHNIQUE!

Mixing the figurative and the literal is a way for writers to write the un-writeable parts of our stories.
If it's a concept, a thought, memory, a dream or something else that you want to write about, it can be almost impossible to find the words that will communicate your meaning to your readers.
However, if we take those figurative things, those un-writeable concepts and turn them into literal objects, we can find ways of making concepts or feelings far more clear in our stories.
Battleborn by Claire Vaye Watkins (UK): amzn.to/3xmneUK
Battleborn by Claire Vaye Watkins (US): amzn.to/3ijcRwI
Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro
0:43 - Describing the Technique
1:38 - Example and Analysis 1
3:12 - Example and Analysis 2
6:39 - Example and Analysis 3
7:33 - My Attempt at mixing the figurative and the literal
8:33 - My 100 word story
9:28 - I got published
9:41 - My Tips for mixing the figurative and the literal
MY NOVELLA IN FLASH - GOLD FURY:
US link: www.amazon.com/dp/B093MKXBY5
UK link: www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B093MKXBY5
MY WEBSITE:
www.kierenwestwood.com/
***
Writing is my passion, and I love to support other writers and help them develop their writing along with me. I want to help you tell your best stories.
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[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

MY FLASH FICTION COURSE: www.udemy.com/share/103LYUAEAcclpQQHoI/ MY NOVELLA IN FLASH - GOLD FURY: US link: www.amazon.com/dp/B093MKXBY5 UK link: www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B093MKXBY5 JOIN MY DISCORD COMMUNITY!: discord.gg/c6gZS2p

[@davidosunsan8289]

Criminally underrated yt channel

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Thank you my friend ☺️ Appreciate you being here.

[@Feejakka]

That line “how people’s curtains twitched” 👌😍 deeeelicious! Thanks for sharing your tips and the examples, good stuff to think about

[@hayleywestwood3432]

These quotes feel very cinematic - especially the character's doubts littering the road. I like it when description like this is used in a purposeful way as it adds so much to the story 👏🏼

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

I think you’d like that collection of you want to read it sometime ☺️

[@8ballstreet]

Another splendid technique-focused video, Kieren. Always appreciate these. Will look forward to see how I can make the intangible tangible in my writing with these tips. Cheers

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Thank you so much 😊 I try to spot the gaps and the nameless parts of writing where I can. Appreciate you watching.

[@raphaelsaint-saes6850]

You are extremely under rated and you deserve so many more subscribers! I feel bad for you and all the people that are unlucky enough to have never found your channel.

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Thank you, but don’t feel bad! I love what I do and I’d rather grow slowly but surely than blast off and burn out ☺️

[@opollitico]

As always, just exquisite examples that really illustrated what you meant. Your piece too, absolutely beautiful! Easily my favourite video of yours so far! And the editing, yes man!

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Awesome, thank you 🙂 These are definitely my favourite types of videos to make. We're in the middle of moving house at the moment, but once we're settled in a month or so, I'm looking forward to making plenty more like this, so it's good to know they're useful!

[@opollitico]

@@KierenWestwoodWriting absolutely !

[@JoeyPaulOnline]

This gave me a lot to think about, liked your examples and the tips too! It sounds like a good technique to play around with!

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Thank you! It’s definitely a fun one to experiment with ☺️

[@jonahnolastnameneeded3130]

For my WIP, I’ve kept on having emotional moments that are pretty much just made of the characters thoughts. That just wouldn’t work, but I think this will, your examples just feel so efficient and yet MAGICAL.

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Thanks so much! Glad it could help ☺️

[@smg680]

Great video as always. I actually have a suggestion for a video as it's something i'm struggling on currently. I've heard from you before talking about sudden moments like the character is doing something but then all of a sudden, something unexpected happens. What you said before was that you shouldn't use "all of a sudden" or "suddenly" as that reverses the affect of what unexpected thing is going to happen. However, I haven't really seen anyone tackle how you're supposed to write these types of moments. For example, in my first scene, my main character is having a conversation with his imaginary friends but out of nowhere, a huge gust of wind flies through the playground and makes everyone go off balance, including the main character. I've been trying to write this sudden moment but I keep thinking of putting the word suddenly or all of a sudden. I guess it's just habit as i've been writing like that for years in english class in school

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

That’s a really good suggestion, thank you. As soon as I’m set back up I’ll find some examples and approach that topic ☺️ As far as ‘suddenly’ goes, I do stand by what I said in that video, however like all things, that’s just what I’ve found works for my stories. You may well find it’s different for you and both of us can be right! I also think stuff like that might be a ‘second draft’ kind of problem too. The sort of thing where you write whatever comes naturally the first time around (‘suddenly’ and all) then when you come to revise the story, if it doesn’t feel right it can be changed. Thanks for watching as always! ☺️

[@smg680]

@@KierenWestwoodWriting You're very welcome. And I look forward to when you make this suggestion a reality when you're set back up. Obviously there's no rush :)

[@Feejakka]

In my opinion there’s nothing wrong with “suddenly” as long as it’s not repeated often (use sparingly!). It’s the simplest way to describe a quick, unexpected change. In one word at the start of the action sequence you can change the pacing, alert the reader to something important about to take place, and indicate that the following actions are happening quickly. (Other techniques include writing in shorter sentences, solid action verbs, and smaller paragraphs.) I would argue that in some instances, it would be weird NOT to use it. “Jim stood up and ran across the playground to high five Ben. The ground started shaking, throwing them both to their knees.” IMO without “suddenly” to start the second sentence, it seems flat and kinda confusing, because the writer hasn’t indicated a change in tone or urgency. 🤷‍♀️

[@Eternal-Student]

I loved your example, fantastic!

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Thank you so much! :)

[@mbernier59]

Again, great stuff, Kieren. Merci

[@judyshinohara]

Great video! There aren't many videos like this that have so many examples. PLUS, you actually sat down and wrote a brilliant short story for us.

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Thank you so much! ☺️ I’m really glad it was useful!

[@JustJinx]

I just discovered your channel & I’m SO glad I did!!! I’m loving your writing technique videos. Thank you!

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

I'm so glad too! Thank you for watching 🙂

[@OffTheTop007]

Helpful video. Well done.

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching 🙂

[@valerieclaussen3925]

Thanks for another helpful video. I always seem to learn something new.

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

That’s great, I’m so glad ☺️ thank you so much for watching!

[@bignose3639]

Wow!🔥

[@marvamason]

Great ideas in this video

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Thank you! 😊

[@drstafford4194]

A really good one. 👍

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Thank you! This was one of my favourites to make so far ☺️

[@redramen4709]

I’m your 1000th view on this video

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

Thank you!

[@hannahkeeton6889]

How should someone go about writing an allegory?

[@KierenWestwoodWriting]

I haven’t tried that myself to be honest so I’m not sure I’ll be much help, but my suggestion/first thought would be lean heavily on symbols that represent the meaning of the story. I’d say usu if third person omniscient narration might also help to give the story more distance and to make it feel more universal.