Pablo de Olavide University has held the third edition of the workshop 'Building Worlds' in Carmona, where writer Nerea Riesco taught how to structure a novel in just one day. The course is part of UPO's Summer Courses.
Writer and journalist Nerea Riesco Suárez directed the third edition of the workshop 'Building Worlds. Structure Your Novel in a Day' on Monday in Carmona, as part of the 24th edition of the Summer Courses at Pablo de Olavide University (UPO). During the day, participants learned practical tools to design and structure narrative projects, from character creation to plot organization.
Riesco argued that "readers can accept dragons or legendary kings, but they do not forgive soulless characters." For the author, the most common mistake among novice writers is thinking that novels are born solely from inspiration. Against that romantic image, she champions discipline, planning, and constant work as the pillars of the craft.
From Talent to Perseverance
"To compose a good novel, talent is necessary, but so is knowing the characters well, building a solid structure, and caring for every element of the story," Riesco explained. Beyond narrative techniques, she maintains that writing involves living with uncertainty and doubt. Starting a story may seem easy; finishing it requires perseverance.
"There comes a moment when the initial excitement fades and only the daily work remains. It is then that one decides whether a story will be a novel or just a vague idea," she pointed out. The writer warned that many novice authors worry too soon about publication or proving everything they know, when what matters is what the character feels and discovers.
Writing as a Tool for Self-Knowledge
Riesco defends the creative process as a powerful tool for personal knowledge. "Writing is a way of thinking," she asserts. Writing forces one to observe reality more closely, to listen better, and to question one's own ideas. "Often, one starts a page believing they know what they think about something and ends up discovering something new. Writing not only transforms the texts but also those who write them," she explained.
This intimate transformation of the author translates to the relationship with the reader. "I increasingly write with the thought of how I want people on the other side of my stories to feel," 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 recognizing oneself in the desires, conflicts, or doubts of its characters," she added.
When that connection occurs, literature ceases to be mere entertainment and becomes an experience capable of accompanying, comforting, or posing questions that also belong to the reader. This philosophy permeates much of Riesco's work, author of titles such as The Ivory Elephant, The Gates of Paradise, Ars Magica, or The Land of Butterflies. She is currently presenting Morgana, a novel that recovers the voice of one of the most complex female characters in Arthurian legend.
The Impact of the Digital Revolution
The journalist has analysed how the digital revolution has transformed the way of writing, publishing, and reading. She acknowledges that the internet has democratized access to documentation tools and multiplied opportunities for new authors. However, she warns that the abundance of stimuli and distractions makes attention an increasingly scarce commodity. "Technology has changed habits, but not the human need to hear stories," she stated.
In an era dominated by speed and simplification, Riesco maintains that literature retains an essential social function. "Reading is an exercise in empathy," she defends. Fiction is not about copying reality, but about observing and interpreting it to reveal aspects that often go unnoticed. Although books rarely transform a life immediately, the author champions their ability to leave a silent mark and accompany people during important moments. "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 concludes.
The workshop was held as part of UPO's Summer Courses in Carmona, an event that attracts dozens of students interested in literary creation each year. For those who missed it, the university offers other similar workshops throughout the summer in various municipalities of the province. The next edition of the 'Building Worlds' course is scheduled for the summer of 2027.
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