Six Great Questions Writers Need to Answer for Readers

If both nature and nurture are what it takes, my kids will be stronger readers and writers than I am.  They have my genes and my passion for literature, but they're also benefitting from superior reading and writing instruction.  Their public charter school uses "reading workshop" and "writing workshop," a curriculum Lucy Calkins of Columbia Teachers College developed to empower students to read and write with increasing sophistication at each grade. 

My daughter's fourth grade teacher, Ms. Helms, made all her students a laminated refrigerator magnet with the heading, "7 Questions good readers ask (and can answer!) about our books."  It is on the side of our refrigerator and often catches my eyes, luring them away from the cutting board or stove and reminding me that good writers have to make sure these questions are a pleasure to answer.  I share with you here six of these questions (the seventh is more relevant to specific moments in a book rather than the whole book) along with the answers I would want readers to be able to provide about my novel-in-progress, Au Pair Report.

1. Who is telling the story? How do you know?

Au Pair Report uses third person "limited" narration.  This means that I use "she" and "he" rather than "I," while also focusing exclusively on the point of view of my protagonist--Liza, the mother of a toddler and a "work from home" counselor for an au pair program. It's obvious that my narrator is not omniscient because we only see other characters (au pairs, host parents, etc.) through Liza's eyes. 

 2. Where and when is the story happening (what is the setting)?

Au Pair Report conveys a strong sense of its time and place.  It takes place in workaholic Washington, DC where au pairs make many host parents' busy careers possible.  The novel opens in the miserable heat of a DC summer (like the one we are in the midst of now).  More specifically, it's 2010 and one ambitious host mom has her eye on the next presidential election, which turns the heat up a little higher for Liza.

3. What kind of person is the main character?  How do you know?

Liza is a character who worries a lot.  Being the primary caregiver for her mischievous toddler, Zora, while also keeping peace among au pairs and host parents, gives her plenty to worry about.  On top of these responsibilities, she also has a mentally ill mother.  Having grown up with a constant fear of "going crazy," she now worries about how to protect her own child from this genetic legacy.  The novel's third person limited focus on Liza gives readers intimate access to her memories, experiences, and thoughts. 

 4. Who are the other characters?  What do you know about them?

This novel has many other characters, including au pairs from various countries and their host parents as well as Liza's own family members.  While much of the novel's action revolves around the exceptional cases (difficult matches and other crises), readers get to see a broad sampling of the types of young women who come to this country as au pairs.  Readers know about all these other characters only as much as Liza knows.

5. What's the big problem the character faces?

Liza's big problem is that competing priorities in her life pull her in too many different directions.  Does that sound familiar?  My guess is that most parents feel this way--and probably plenty of non-parents too.  My hope is that this book will have broad appeal to readers because of this quasi-universal theme of feeling overwhelmed by the imbalances of modern life.

6. (After finishing book) How did the main character change during the story? 

I haven't finished writing the book (it's about forty percent done), but plan to have Liza take charge of her life by not letting other people's problems overwhelm her.  Ultimately, she finds a better balance between her family and work priorities while also finding a way to highlight the issue of child care to the policy wonks laying the groundwork for the 2012 presidential election.

Thinking through these answers to the questions on my daughter's refrigerator magnet is helping me through a rough spot in my novel.  Until recently, my writing group has loved my submissions of chapters from Au Pair Report, but my last submission was more problematic.  It makes me think of the one question on the refrigerator magnet that did not make it onto the above list:

What picture do you have in your mind of what's happening in the story now?

I know the picture readers had in the earlier chapters was vivid, and now it's gotten muddled.  It's time for me to do some revision--looking back on what I've written--but it's also time to look ahead at the big picture of my whole novel.  Thanks, Ms. Helms, for inspiring me to write a book worthy of the good readers you are helping to nurture!

Comments

[Kelly Hand]

I am trying to listen both to my readers (the writing group for now) and to the characters. For example, Tiffany just told me she needs to be a Tatiana. And of course a name is never just a name. I'm still figuring out my next moves, but the advice of good readers is crucial.

[Karen Kane]

I enjoyed this Kelly. Can't wait to read my signed copy of your book :-) Karen

[Molly Mahoney]

Great questions! So did the writer's group help you clarify where you are going with the story or will the character's tell you where to go next?

Molly

[Donna]

Great questions Kelly. As I create, with characters and plot line jockying for position and prominence, it is sometimes difficult to keep in mind who you are writing about and who you are writing for. Knowing the answers to these questions is a great device for staying on track.

Thanks for sharing!