Using storytelling techniques in writing any genre proves to be highly effective.
Storytelling has a unique style that can engage readers by evoking emotions, facilitating understanding, and making the writing more appealing. For writers, it helps expand vocabulary and enhance creativity.
This was revealed during a writing workshop featuring Dee Lestari, titled ‘The Power of Storytelling to Elevate Your Creativity in Any Medium,’ held at BRI Works, UGM Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (Fisipol UGM), Tuesday (Sep. 10).
The workshop was part of the Generasi Campus Roadshow, a collaboration between UGM, Grab, and Narasi.
“With storytelling, the process of narration becomes essential, as this is how the writer’s message reaches the reader,” Lestari told the participants.
Over 50 participants attended the workshop, which Lestari immediately transformed into a discussion session, allowing participants to explore her 20 years of experience as a writer.
For about an hour, participants asked a wide range of questions, not just about storytelling but all aspects of writing.
One of the participants, Dona, a student from Fisipol UGM, asked for tips on maintaining consistency in writing. She found it challenging to balance writing with her academic workload. Lestari responded by breaking it down into two points: discipline in ideas and discipline in work.
For Lestari, all writers must trust their ideas, as they are the foundation for any writing, whether a novel, book, journalistic article, or film script.
“The second is discipline in work. Respect your writing time, create a ritual, and honor it, even if it’s just 30 minutes, and don’t mix it with other tasks,” Lestari advised.
She also addressed a question about a writer’s brilliance being seen from the first sentence of their work. She explained that many beginner writers waste the golden moment by writing long, drawn-out narratives at the start, causing the reader to lose interest.
“Narrative is like a magic machine; if it shines at the beginning, it creates a promise that must be fulfilled. The plot can move forward or backward; it doesn’t always have to move forward,” the novelist passionately explained.
Lestari also offered tips on preventing a writer’s work from becoming monotonous, such as changing the point of view (POV).
“Avoid using ‘I’ as the POV whenever possible, or you could change the gender of the main character. The key is to create a layer between yourself and the character you’ve created,” said Lestari, who has published numerous novels, short story collections, non-fiction books, and film scripts.
Lestari believes that a writer’s experience level influences their creativity and the quality of their work. At the beginning of the writing process, a writer must have a concrete figure to model after, which is not taboo.
Lestari reasoned that humans learn by imitation, and writers will develop their own style over time.
“Find your hero, imitate them, don’t be afraid if your work sounds like someone else’s. Time will shape your voice,” said the fan of Sapardi Djoko Damono.
Before closing the discussion session, Lestari encouraged participants to keep writing to finish the first draft. From this first draft, meant only for the writer, there is a ‘fermentation’ process before editing begins.
During this process, writers should revisit the first chapter, the first paragraph, and even the first sentence, as this is the key to the story. At the end of the workshop, Lestari also recommended a book for those interested in writing, especially the novel Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody.
“In this book, Brody offers tips on the basics of writing, including plot, characterization, and patterns of imagery. It’s worth reading,” she concluded.
Author: Triya Andriyani
Photographer: Donnie
Post-editor: Afif