Hello my fellow bookworms! I am beyond ecstatic to be here today to share with you an amazing experience I had interviewing some of the most talented authors of our time. I am a huge fan of their work and it is an absolute honor to be able to pick their brains and learn more about the craft from the pros themselves. Grab a cup of tea and a cozy spot, because you’re about to be taken on an exciting journey into the minds of literary greats!

The Art of Storytelling 📖✍️

In this section, I had the pleasure of talking to one of my all-time favorite authors, Jane Austen. She says that the key to a great story is, “A charming protagonist, intricate web of relationships, and a well-crafted plot. It must keep readers guessing, and have a satisfying conclusion.” She also stresses the importance of making the characters relatable and flawed, so readers can connect with them on a deeper level.

A portrait of Jane Austen smiling

Balancing Reality and Imagination 🤔🧐

Next, I spoke with Gabriel Garcia Marquez about how he blends reality and magic in his writing. He believes that “Literature is like a mirror, it reflects what we see in real life, but it also shows us the magical possibilities that exist just beyond our reality.” He suggests that writers should focus on creating an environment in their world, where magical or surreal events can take place, without it feeling out of place.

A quote from Gabirel Garcia Marquez that says "Literature is like a mirror, it reflects what we see in real life, but it also shows us the magical possibilities that exist just beyond our reality."

Creating Compelling Characters 💁‍♂️💁‍♀️

One of the biggest factors in a successful story is having fleshed out characters that your readers can feel deeply for. Toni Morrison thinks that “Characters must have personality beyond the page, essentially a life of their own. She completely embodies them, even if parts of them is created by people she actually knows.” When creating a character, it’s important to give them a backstory and motivations to make them a well-rounded and dynamic character that represents more than just words on a page.

A quote from Toni Morrison that says "Characters must have personality beyond the page, essentially a life of their own. She completely embodies them, even if parts of them are created by people she actually knows."

Finding Your Voice 🗣️🎤

The power of narration can make or break a story. We need a voice that can convey the tone, mood, and style of the story, that can grip the reader from the very first line. To find your voice, Margaret Atwood suggests, “Write down things that matter, that move you. Make lists, do exercises. Try different approaches, voices, styles.” Also, allowing yourself to experiment and have fun with different forms of storytelling can open up endless possibilities.

A quote from Margaret Atwood that says "Write down things that matter, that move you. Make lists, do exercises. Try different approaches, voices, styles."

Wrapping Up 🎁👋

It was incredibly inspiring to have the opportunity to speak with such talented authors and hear their advice on how to improve as a writer. To summarize, a great story requires a charming protagonist, intricate relationships, and a well-crafted plot, blended with a perfect balance of realism and imagination. Fleshed-out characters bring life to the story, and finding your own unique voice is essential. I hope this has been helpful and I can’t wait to see what stories you’ll create next! 🥰

A picture of a stack of books