Writer Nerea Riesco leads the workshop 'Building Worlds' in Carmona, part of the UPO Summer Courses, where she argues that characters must have soul to connect with the reader.
Writer and journalist Nerea Riesco Suárez has directed the third edition of the workshop 'Building Worlds. Structure Your Novel in a Day' in Carmona this Monday, as part of the 24th edition of the Summer Courses at Pablo de Olavide University (UPO). During the session, Riesco provided attendees with practical tools to design and structure narrative projects, with special attention to character creation, plot construction, and story organisation.
Riesco emphasised that one of the most widespread and erroneous ideas about writing is to think that novels are born solely from inspiration. Against this romantic image of the author facing a blank page, the writer advocates for the value of discipline, planning, and constant work. "To compose a good novel, talent is necessary, but it is also essential to know the characters well, build a solid structure, and care for every element of the story," she explained.
The author warned about the difficulty of maintaining creative momentum throughout the process: "There comes a moment when the initial excitement disappears and only the daily work remains. It is then that it is decided whether a story will become a novel or simply a vague idea." In this sense, she pointed out that many novice authors make the mistake of worrying too soon about publication or proving everything they know: "Narrative gains strength when it remembers that what matters is not what the author knows, but what the character feels and discovers."
Riesco defended the creative process as a tool for personal knowledge. "Writing is a way of thinking," she asserted, arguing that writing forces one to observe reality more attentively, to listen better, and to question one's own ideas. "Often, one starts a page believing they know what they think about something and finishes having discovered something new. Writing not only transforms the texts but also those who write them," she added.
The connection with the reader is another pillar of her literary philosophy. "I increasingly write thinking about how I want people to feel on the other side of my stories," she noted. In her view, the strength of a novel lies in the emotional connection and the universality of feelings, above the setting. "Readers can accept dragons, time travel, or legendary kings, but they do not forgive soulless characters. What allows one to enter a story is the possibility of recognising oneself in the desires, conflicts, or doubts of its characters," she highlighted.
The writer, author of titles such as The Ivory Elephant, The Gates of Paradise, Ars Magica, and The Land of Butterflies, is currently presenting Morgana, a novel that recovers the voice of one of the most complex female characters from Arthurian legend. In her work, Riesco connects with human emotions and the capacity of fiction to offer new perspectives on reality.
Regarding the impact of the digital revolution, Riesco acknowledged that the internet has democratized access to documentation tools and multiplied opportunities for new authors. However, she warned that the abundance of stimuli and distractions makes attention a scarce resource. "Technology has changed habits, but not the human need to hear stories," she asserted.
For Riesco, literature retains an essential social function in an era dominated by speed and simplification. "Reading is an exercise in empathy," she defended, concluding that fiction is not about copying reality but about observing and interpreting it to reveal aspects that often go unnoticed. "Stories can offer new questions, open different perspectives, or help us better understand what we are living long after we have closed the last page," she stated.
The workshop was held as part of the UPO Summer Courses in Carmona, which will continue their programming over the coming weeks with other educational activities.
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