How to Write a Story That Helps Readers Know “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay”
1. Don’t Dumb Down Hard Topics
In Patrick Ness’ “A Monster Calls” we have a great example to follow. Patrick does not shy away from talking about hard things and aspiring writers shouldn’t either.
Being vulnerable and upfront, especially in writing, will help the reader more than tiptoeing around hard issues that they really want to talk about.
Don’t water down the nitty gritty and the hard things to talk about. As readers that’s why we pick up “sad books.” We want to see the raw emotion. We want to feel something. We want to cry.
Make it raw and emotional and readers will love you for it.
2. Write Characters that have Flaws and Can’t Avoid Them
“Flawed” doesn’t have to be a bad word. And “perfect” doesn’t have to be the best word.
In the broken world we live in, the reality is, I have my flaws and you have yours.
Being a perfectionist for a good period of my life, I know what it is to obsess with trying to be perfect at everything and then finding a gaping hole in your soul at the end when it doesn’t all work out.
It’s more important to be okay with not being perfect and okay with working hard to get better at the important things.
So it should be with our characters when we’re writing stories to let others know it’s okay to have flaws! We all have them, and we’re all working hard to do our best in spite of them.
Readers want to see raw emotions. Readers want to see our characters choke back tears. Readers want to be the fly on the wall to see our character run up to their room and slam their fists at their door until it goes through it.
Readers want to see heartbreak, because these are real things we go through in life and we don’t want to feel alone.
That’s the main point when writing stories like these.
We don’t want to feel alone and our reader doesn’t want to feel alone.
Keep that in mind when creating your characters and the conflicts they are about to go through.
3. Write From Your Own Tragic Moments
A moment ago I wrote, “Readers want to be the fly on the wall to see our character run up to their room screaming and crying and slamming their fists at their door until it goes through it.”
That’s me. That’s a real moment from my childhood. Nobody is perfect and nobody’s life is perfect. And if you are able, write tragic moments into your stories that you truly felt, because those are the moments that will truly resonate with your readers and give them something real to let them know they’re not alone.
How to Write a Story That Helps Readers Know “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay”
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How to Write a Story That Helps Readers Know “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay”
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4. Write About Outcasts that Find Happiness Even in the Hardest Circumstances
In, “A Little Princess,” we follow our protagonist through a miserable existence but somehow they find happiness anyway.
When we are struggling, we want to see resolution in the end even if the circumstances don’t change for the better, because oftentimes our circumstances that make us feel lonely or sad haven’t changed and won’t change.
5. Write Characters that are Isolated and Alone
It’s like wanting to listen to sad music when you’re sad. Readers that feel lonely want to read about lonely characters.
If we cry while reading your story it’s all the better.
6. Make it Easy to Read
Nina LaCour’s “We Are Okay,” is a great study for this type of writing.
It captures this feeling of sadness beautifully and I’d be shocked if you don’t tear up several times reading it.
It’s so easy to read, you could probably read it in a day if you really wanted to.
7. Don’t Forget to Throw in a Few Good Twists
“Anxious People” by Fredrick Backman is good for this.
You can study how he makes his characters flawed but still lovable (it’s extremely important to make them still lovable with their flaws: A Man Called Ove is another great example) and is able to throw in a few good twists before the end to help the reader stay engaged and curious.
I hope this helps!
Happy writing!
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How to Write a Story That Helps Readers Know “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay”
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How to Write a Story That Helps Readers Know “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay”
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