Hello, Reader, my fellow word lover,

We’ve all heard the saying, “If you’re the smartest person in the room, it’s time to find a different room.” If you know me, you’ve likely heard me say it more than once—it’s one of my mantras.

When I start feeling too wise for my own good (or, as I like to joke, putting the “ass” in “wiseass”), I grab my metaphorical backpack and seek out new adventures. After all, who wants to be the smartest one when there’s so much more to learn?

One of the smarter people I’ve learned from in the past few years is Jane Gerhard, who teaches an editing master class once a month in Rebecca Gold’s Write Here Write Now program.

When most people hear “editing,” they think of correcting a manuscript for grammar and usage. I’ll admit, even after 30 years of writing, I used to be one of them! But editing is more than mastering the mechanics; it’s about the art of storytelling. Jane excels at teaching this craft, covering narrative arcs, artful transitions, and managing time shifts.

Recently, we discussed the pillars of storytelling: event, backstory, and consequence. This was incredibly impactful for us in Write Here Write Now, as many are essayists and memoirists. However, Jane's insights on story cadence apply to writers across all genres (not just writers, as you’ll see shortly).

One key takeaway from her classes is balancing these pillars and the tendency for storytellers to get caught up in the backstory. It is easy to get caught up in the need to provide our readers or listeners with extensive backstory, which can inadvertently distract or even lose them.

Think about it—how often have you launched into a story over coffee or drinks, starting with, “It’s a long story, but here are the highlights,” only to find that you haven’t told your story? (My weeknight dinner buddy, Lisa, calls this “going on a bird walk.”)

It’s a common trap we can fall into, and Jane emphasizes that the most engaging stories strike a harmonious balance between these three elements.

So now I have a sticky note above my desk to remind me of the pillars.

And in case you can’t read my chicken scratch:

• The event drives the narrative forward.
• The backstory provides context.
• The consequence shows the impact of what has happened.

When these elements are aligned, we keep our readers engaged and deliver a more robust and cohesive story.

So go forth, young Padawans, and explore this balance in your own storytelling. Whether you’re crafting a personal essay or telling a tale at a cocktail party, keep Jane’s lessons in mind: focus on the event, provide just enough backstory to enrich it, and always consider the consequence.

Until we meet again,

P.S. We just finished our Fall/Winter session of Write Here Write Now, and we're taking a short hiatus (because every writing group needs a little break to appreciate each other, right? LOL!) .If you’d like to learn more about the Write Here Write Now program, hit reply, and I can fill you in!

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