Every now and then, when writing one of my stories, I find myself trying to demonstrate a point that might not be recognized fully without a specific example or short dialogue surrounding it. As I always say, it's better to 'show' than to 'tell' in your stories. Sometimes, the point being made is just for the sake of a scene or two, or for the development of a certain character arc. And other times, that one point might be the sobering moment of my entire project. The true theme of it all, and the reason I wrote the story in the first place. While many of these moments may seem spontaneous and off the cuff in a story, it actually takes a little bit of planning, some foreshadowing, and a well delivered 'punch' at just the right time to make the impact of it work effectively for whatever it is that you're trying to say.

Now, when I talk about making a point in your stories, please don't take that to mean that I'm suggesting you get all preachy about your story, or attempting to force some agenda on your readers. I'm really not. It's your story. You thought it up. You wrote it down (Or typed it out, as the case may be), and there's nothing more repellent than an awkward or overly aggressive delivery of a message in a story. Sometimes, it takes effort and subtlety to keep your audience from feeling like they're being manipulated. Whether they agree with you or not is beside the point. Very few people want something crammed down their throat. (Hehehe, wait...that came out wrong! LOL!)

So, ask yourself...what was it that you were trying to express with your story? If it's just, "I was super horny and wanted to watch two people doing the nasty!"...then that's cool. Go for it! Hehehe, five minutes and a dirty thought can go a long way, believe me.

But, if you took the time to create an elaborate, erotic, or romantic scenario, develop characters, write engaging dialogue, etc...then I would assume that you had more to say than that. A message to convey to your audience. Nothing major or life changing. Just a little piece of 'you' as an author. So, what was it? I'm curious to know. And I'm sure your readers would like to know too. Stories are the original forms of virtual reality. Your audience is caught in this incredibly immersive experience that you've built out of nothing but your imagination and the vocabulary that you have at your disposal. You're running the show. You have an opportunity to inspire, educate, emotionally stimulate, or 'warn', your audience by giving them an experience that they can take with them even after the story ends. So...if you have a point to make, then use your writer's voice while you have the audience's attention. Let them know what's in your heart. That's one of the perks of being an author, in my opinion. It's a chance to both discover and explain myself to the world. Maybe everybody gets it and they agree, and maybe they don't and I get sucker punched in the gut for it...but a piece of me is still out there for others to find, and to at least begin a conversation within themselves or with others to define what their own thoughts and memories about the subject matter at hand may be. A part of my writing is a personal commentary on how I see the world. Positive and negative, and how the extremes can quickly shift from one side to the other. I enjoy doing it. And if you're one of those writers that likes to insert a bit of your own knowledge, wisdom, and life experience, into your stories...then this weekend's topic is just for you!

How to effectively get your point across, and figuring out how to present that little life lesson beforehand. Let's dive in!

Now, before I start babbling...I realize that there are many writers who really have NO interest in having a deeper message in their stories. I get that. Totally acceptable. Sometimes, a story is just a story. It's written for entertainment purposes, and that's all it has to be. Nothing else. Equally as enjoyable. However, there's a little 'after school special' part of me that kind of wants to send out a touch of insight within the text of the stories that I write and share with the public. My stories try to give subtle (sometimes, not-so-subtle) hints to readers about issues like how to deal with heartache. How to keep from being exploited or abused by another person. How to resist cheating on someone you love despite the temptation. How to deal with coming out of the closet, or finding the courage to take a chance on talking to the boy you really like, or how you might regret not taking that risk when you had the chance later on. Theses are all things that I've dealt with in the past, and I now have a platform where I can not only let other people know that they're not alone in feeling the way they feel, but I can, maybe, show them the stupid mistakes that I've made and the consequences that followed...hopefully, preventing my readers from going down that same road when it's their turn to tackle these things for themselves. It's what I focus on, and what I ultimately hope to accomplish by putting certain messages out there for people to relate to and, hopefully, learn from. Now...how do we do that?

I think, if you're going to do this with your writing...then you have to know what your point is going to be ahead of time, and then spend time defining and fleshing your point out, little by little, before you give your readers the 'punchline'. Think about it. And find some sort of relatable metaphor that will allow you to demonstrate your point throughout the plot so it can truly be understood by your audience as they experience it through the eyes of your main character.

I've had a few stories where I tried to demonstrate a point or two, and it was something that I always had to carefully weave into the story being told. I couldn't just drop the mic all of a sudden out of nowhere. I had to work from the point I was trying to make...backwards. "How do I get people to maybe look past what they are already dead set on believing, and maybe open up their minds enough to possibly see things from a different angle?" It's the literary version of using a teaspoon of sugar to help the medicine go down. It's the realization that, "Oh! This story actually has a point to it." Find your main theme, and make sure that it remains a symbiotic part of your story from beginning to end. The trick is to keep it 'undercover'...but still visible. So when you decide to pull the covers off, your readers are right in step with you. "Ohhhh! I totally get it now!" That's the reaction you're looking for.

I've written stories about the lingering damage that parental abuse has on a child, and on how money and class status can make for a hostile atmosphere. I've written about the difference between being in the closet, but suppressed and ashamed of who you are...mirrored by being out of the closet, and being bullied and made fun of because of it. I've written about trying to find love again after having your heart torn apart, I've written about falling for someone who was totally straight, or maybe way out of your league. I've even written about love between people of different ages...and had to shield myself from the backlash of it all. But for those few moments, where I have the reader's focus and attention, I get to put them in someone else's shoes...and I do all I can to get them to understand WHY my characters feel the way they feel. I give them a glimpse of what it's like to see life through the eyes of someone that they'd probably be angered and annoyed by, otherwise. I want readers to be pulled in to the story in a way where they can discover and (hopefully) understand the main character's motivations. I want them to say, "Well...if it was ME, would I act all that differently? I mean, I think I can see where he/she is coming from in this situation." And if you can involve your audience in a way where they can put themselves in the story...then your point has been made. Even if they disagree with the message itself. At least you touched a nerve. Hehehe, and as writers...touching nerves is what we do best.

Now, this doesn't ALWAYS work. I mean, there are readers who hate and despise and are angered and annoyed by everything that "Billy Chase" does when I put out a new chapter. LOL! I honestly don't know why they keep reading. I feel bad for stressing them out and taking years off of their lifespan with my awful plot points. BUT...every now and then...I work myself up to a learned lesson that readers can understand, appreciate, and even applaud, once he's gone through hell to get there. Again, that's all becaue of extensive planning and laying the groundwork ahead of time so the audience can follow my character through his journey, pitfalls and all, and learn the lesson WITH him. As opposed to me just trying to spit it in their faces with no rhyme or reason.

Again...'show'...don't 'tell'. Very important.

So if you have a point to get across, make it an organic part of the story itself. Demonstrate its importance by threading it into your narrative and into the behavior of your protagonist. Don't force your message on the reader. Let your story create the fantasy, and through a series of rewards and consequences, allow your readers to reach the conclusion and discover the lesson for themselves. There's a big difference there. When people read your story...for some it will open up a window and let the light shine in. For others? It holds up a mirror. Either way, you made your point, you've explained why the point has value, and you've left a lasting impression on the people who have invested time and energy into the work that you've produced for them. Congrats, writers! That's a total WIN for you all! Hehehe!

Anyway, that's all for today! I hope it gives you guys something to think about when writing your next story. This weekend topic is, in itself, a story with a point. I had an idea, I thought about how to best express that idea, and then I worked backwards from there to make sure this whole discussions was centered around bringing that point home for you guys to understand and take to heart. Writing a story is no different. Find your focus, weave it into your project, and then deliver the punchline. Voila! That's all there is to it!

Thanks for reading, you guys! And I'll see you next week with more!