New Writers, How To Find The Hidden Story In Your Story

Tips from a novelist to uncover the story you’re hiding

I often read a story on Medium and feel like there is a story that wants to be told, but it’s missing because the writer is holding it back.

I realized this watching a YouTube video, “On Story,” a short film produced by Ken Burns where George Saunders tells how he finds the hidden story.

If you don't know Saunders, he is an acclaimed short story writer and novelist. His novel Lincoln in the Bardo won a literary award, and his book A Swim In The Pond In The Rain analyzes short stories to study the craft of writing.

A good vs. a bad story

He says a good story is like a black box where you put a reader in there with the story you have made and something astonishing happens to the reader when they come out because the writer delved into the heart of their story.

“It feels like the curtain has been pulled back, and she’s gotten a glimpse into a deeper truth.” — George Saunders, “On Story”

Unfortunately, nothing astonishing happens in a lot of stories. Saunders compares these stories to a date where a guy has a pile of index cards with subjects to talk about at different times on the date.

7:05: Compliment her outfit 7:10: Ask about her mother 8:20: Share a laugh 11:00: Profess your love

Maybe, this might work for a billionaire like Elon Musk. But when it comes to writing a story Saunders says a key is to not start out with a fixed intention or to be overcontrolling with a story or no mystery will be allowed in the sorry.

And it will feel like a scripted date.

Let your story talk to you

Instead, he suggests reversing the process: Let the story talk to you rather than you trying to manipulate a story to what you want it to say.

“I’ve learned that I tend to overmanage a story…I want a story to do is this. But a story is saying, “I’m sorry, but I just can’t do that.”

— George Saunders

He recommends having some idea of what your story is about, and then as you begin to put it onto the page, he advises to pay attention to your sentences in your second and third drafts to listen to what your story is wanting to say.

Saunders gives an example of how to find the hidden story by thinking more deeply about one sentence that your mind naturally stops on and to noodle with it by pulling back the layers of meaning like you’re peeling an onion.

For example, if you said, Frank was an asshole well that’s got a little bite to it, but it’s not great. But the writer’s mind always says … how so? Frank is an asshole. But how is he an asshole?

Frank is an asshole because he snapped at the barista.

Okay, that’s good. You’re starting to make your case. But why do you think he snapped at the barista? And then I think the asshole is in the way. Let’s take that out and go to the action.

Let’s say Frank snapped at the barista … who reminded him of his wife, his dead wife who he dearly loved.

Finding the deeper story

Now we have a story on a guy who is grieving the loss of his wife” and little moments often remind her of his wife and trigger Frank to grieve his loss.

That’s the story I want to read.

I don’t want to read about the rude guy who snaps at the barista while you — or me — are waiting in line at Starbucks because that’s not really the story.

So pay closer attention to your sentences in the revision process because your mind will tell you if you are leaving something out, and it will nudge you to the higher ground your story is trying to get your attention to tell this story.

So the next time you write about a weekend drinking spree in Mexico or becoming a digital nomad ask yourself, “What is my story wanting to say?”

And tell us why you want to be a digital nomad.

Tell us this story

And don’t forget to tell us where you plan to travel? Are you traveling by car or recreational vehicle? Are you going solo or with your wife? If the latter, do you think you can co-exist in the cramped quarters of a Recreational Vehicle?

I want to know your backstory. I want to know if you’ve been frustrated while working in an office and driving a cubicle-sized car for the past 25 years.

I want to know your travel itinerary and your ethos for your traveling.

I want to know what kind of snacks you plan to eat while you travel.

I want to know if you’ve read Jack Kerouac’s On The Road or John Steinbeck’s Travels with Charley. I want to know what type of stories you plan to write.

What books do you plan to bring? What’s on your Spotify playlist? What are your goals as a writer? Do you want to write a book about your travels?

That’s the story I want to read. I don’t want to read about gridlock on your commute to work.

Thanks for reading my story.

A shoutout to Devette Lindsay and her story, “Creative Uses for Writers’ Notebooks” will help to bolster your writing practice.

Screenshots for “On Story” were originally launched on Atlantic.com.

Tagging a few story nerd friends: Cassandra Boom, Sandy Maximus, Ning Choi, Autistic Widower, Carly Newberg, Misti Lynn, Victoria Valentine, Eulyn Webb, Jennifer Locklear, Janet Meisel, Lu Skerdoo, Christine DiBrizzi, Hayden Moore, Melissa Marietta, The Sober Vegan Yogi, Mary Louisa Cappelli

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Or check out my YouTube video on Ten Great Medium publications.