Storytelling vs. Writing

If you’ve read much of my writing it may strike you that I separate storytelling and writing. That strikes some people as odd because they don’t see a difference. I thought I’d explore my thoughts on the subject today.

First, storytelling is an overarching category, while writing is one method of storytelling. So that would be my first differentiation. Storytelling can be oral, written, in dance, through the visual arts, in film or video. The quote you will find on my website, and even on my business cards, is this:

The essence of all human communication is storytelling.

So storytelling is a much larger concept than writing. But you will also see that I will talk about storytelling within writing as a separate issue as well. I think that’s the point that confuses people the most. I won’t insist that what I’m about to share is “the TRUTH” (I have an issue with capital T “Truth”). Rather it is my understanding of my creative process. It’s offered here to get a discussion going.

Storytelling vs. writing. Writing is a process. It’s also a set of conventions and rule on the use of language in written form. There is both an art and a craft to writing. How well do you use the language? How well do you follow the rules and conventions, and how well do you break them? All these things are the essence of good writing. It is grammar, spelling, punctuation. Writing is the ability to create a visual image of the people, places, and actions of the story through the use of words. Good writing is hard.

But there’s another aspect to what we do. It has to do with rhythm, tempo, and structure. It’s how to build a story, and how it is allowed to grow. Some will argue that this is part of writing, but my counter is that these aspects are the same in film or painting or dance. This is the part of the process that transcends the specific method. Grammar isn’t an issue in a painting. Brushwork is irrelevant to movie making. Lighting is not an issue in a novel. Each of them are important within that method of storytelling. These other points span all forms.

I have read well-written pieces that tell their story poorly. I have read wonderful stories that have serious writing flaws. Because the two can be separated this way, I chose to consider them on their individual merits.

Thus I can decry a story’s writing while lauding its storytelling structure, and vice versa. The best of all possible worlds are stories that achieve full expression by including both.

What are your thoughts on storytelling and writing? Feel free to jump in, here or on Twitter!

Peace

JD