Crafting Stories from the Soul
How embracing both heart-driven narratives and head-driven strategies can lead to authentic and compelling storytelling.
Welcome to Author Like a Boss where conscious creativity meets smart marketing. I'm Ella Barnard, your Conscious Author Coach, and I'm so excited to have you join us on this journey.
If you are a paid member, then you’ll get access to the Behind the Pseudonym, where I’m detailing the launch of my new pen name, plus exclusive access to the Pen Name Chronicles: 2020, the emails I sent during the launch of my first pen name. If you are not a paid subscriber, then you can receive the upcoming week of posts with a 7-day free trial.
The first romance I wrote was inspired by a truly terrible first date with a guy—let's call him Bob.
When I was single in my 20s, I went through a phase of online dating. Well, Bob and I met online and agreed to have a coffee date at Starbucks. When I got there, he was sitting at a table outside. I said, "Hi, nice to meet you! I'm just going to run inside and grab a drink."
A few minutes later, when I came outside with my drink he wasn't at the table. I glanced around just in time to see Bob salute me as he drove away in his truck... like an asshole.
And that was that.
When I started writing, I wanted to give that experience a NEW ending—One where a hot, tattooed guy at the next table over saw the whole thing and stepped in to take Bob's place. (Which is literally what I wished had happened.)
Obviously, the story ends with a Happily Ever After.
This process of transforming my disappointment into a story of hope and love was inherently a journey of writing from my heart. And I didn’t even know I was doing it.
Writing from the Heart—a storytelling approach that prioritizes emotional depth and authenticity, focusing on character development, personal growth, and the exploration of universal human experiences.
After that story, I went on to write a LOT of short romances... like 50 of them.
I was releasing a book every week or two, and didn't have time to dive into my heart and feelings to write stories. It didn't take long for the writing to become very formulaic.
At this point, I was writing from my head.
But eventually—possibly because the ideas weren't coming from my heart—I burned out.
Writing from the Head—a methodical approach to storytelling that emphasizes intellectual engagement, thematic exploration, and structural complexity.
Now I'm starting a new series—this one that I want to make sure to write from my heart again. And in the same way I did with the first romance I wrote, I'm using a true personal experience to start the story.
In this story, the FMC is living with her mom, and she's helping take care of her terminally ill step-father.
After he passes away, the FMC's mother abruptly kicks her out of the house. The FMC doesn't know what to do or where to go, and she's hurting. A lot.
All of that actually happened. It was awful. That’s part of the reason I want to rewrite the ending.
I want to transform a painful memory into an amazing story...
Like the FMC lands a job at The Dragonne Library, makes new friends, and accidentally bonds a dragon!
Plus, five hot Supes fall in love with her!
If this sounds like my personal fantasy life, well, you wouldn't be wrong. 😝
It’s actually taking me a quite a bit longer to write the story, since it’s forcing me to work through a bunch of emotions. But I’m hoping, in the long run, it will connect with readers and possibly even heal some emotional wounds.
In my quiet writing moments, I've learned something important: good stories come from balancing what we feel in our hearts with what we know in our heads.
The true essence of writing isn't just about choosing to write from the heart or the head—it's about acknowledging that both are integral parts of who we are as storytellers.
Writing with the heart is about sharing deep feelings and personal stories. It's honest and brave, turning real emotions into stories that others can connect with. It's like sharing a piece of your soul through the characters and their adventures.
Writing with the head is different. It involves careful planning and creating complex worlds. It's about making stories that make people think and dream big. This way of writing builds stories piece by piece, capturing attention with clever plots and big ideas.
Now, as I start a new series, I'm mixing both these ways of writing. I'm using my own feelings and smart storytelling to make something special. This mix is where I find my true writing voice.
To other writers, I want to say: try using both your feelings and your smarts when you write. Your unique mix will make your stories strong and real.
Remember, the most powerful narratives are those that embrace the full spectrum of human experience, crafted with both the depth of feeling and the clarity of thought.
hugs and happy authoring,
Ella
"Writing from the heart is like sharing a piece of your soul with the world, hoping it finds a place to call home." - Anonymous