Playing Chess and Writing

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Hi everyone! Winnie Griggs here. I hope you all had a fabulous Independence day and took a moment amid your celebrations to give thanks for this wonderful country we live in.

As I’ve mentioned before, the first book in my new Sweetbrier Creek series, An Amish Christmas Match, will be coming out on Sept 24th. The hero, Seth Beiler, makes hand carved chess sets and chess actually plays a big part in the story. So today I thought it would be fun to do a post that’s a little bit different – I call it How Playing Chess Is Like Writing A Book

I do play chess, but it’s been years since I’ve actually played the game and I was a mid-level player at best. But I did enjoy the challenge and the need to think strategically, to try to see several moves ahead.

At first glance, chess and writing a book might seem worlds apart. However, both require strategic thinking, foresight, and creativity. Here are some comparisons to demonstrate that.

 

  1. Setting Up the Board

Before a game of chess begins, you set up the board, placing each piece in its starting position and you determine which player will go first.
Similarly, in writing, you begin by establishing your setting, introducing characters, and laying the groundwork for your plot. This initial setup is crucial for the story or game that will unfold. Even if you don’t actually plot out your stories, most non-plotters I know have some of this basic information figured out.

  1. The Opening Moves

The opening moves in chess are about establishing control and positioning pieces to your best advantage.
In writing, your opening chapters serve to hook the reader, introduce key elements, and set the tone. A strong beginning in both chess and writing is essential for success. Many writers (me included) will spend more time working and reworking the opening paragraphs of their story than on any other section of the book.

 

  1. Strategic Planning

Both chess and writing involve a great deal of planning. In chess, you must think several moves ahead, anticipating your opponent’s actions.
Similarly, in writing, you need to plot your story, consider character arcs, and foresee how different elements will interact and unfold. Some writers do all of this up front before they actually start writing, some figure it out as they go.

 

  1. Mid-Game Development

The middle game in chess is where the strategy deepens. You develop your pieces, control key areas, and set up potential combinations.
In writing, the middle of your book is where characters develop, subplots intertwine, and the main narrative gains momentum. This phase requires careful attention to detail and pacing. And for me personally, it’s where I always have to stop and take stock of where my story is headed and make any mid-course corrections if necessary.

 

  1. Facing Challenges

In both chess and writing, you’ll encounter challenges. In chess, you face tactical threats and must protect your king while seeking to capture your opponent’s pieces.
In writing, you might deal with writer’s block, plot holes, or character inconsistencies. Overcoming these obstacles is a critical part of the process.

  1. Sacrifices and Risks

Chess often involves sacrifices—giving up a piece to gain a strategic advantage.
Writing a book can also require sacrifices, such as cutting beloved scenes or characters for the greater good of the story. Taking calculated risks can lead to powerful, unexpected outcomes in both fields. But man oh man can it be painful!

 

  1. The Endgame

The endgame in chess is about converting your strategic advantage into victory. It’s a phase requiring precision and focus.
Similarly, the conclusion of a book is where all plot threads come together, and the narrative reaches its climax and resolution. A well-crafted endgame or conclusion is crucial for a satisfying outcome.

 

  1. Analyzing the Game

After a chess game, players often analyze their moves to understand what worked and what didn’t. Writers, too, review and revise their drafts, seeking to improve the story’s flow, coherence, and impact. This reflection is essential for growth and mastery in both chess and writing.

 

So, as you can see, whether maneuvering knights and bishops or crafting compelling characters and plotlines, both chess and writing require a blend of strategy, creativity, and adaptability.

Do you play chess?  Do you agree with the comparisons I came up with? Can you think of any others?

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UPDATE: There is some kind of system glitch that keeps kicking me out when I try to reply to any comments or add a comment of my own. Rest assured that I am enjoying reading all the comments you are leaving and will respond to them as soon as we get this issue figured out

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Winnie Griggs is the author of Historical (and occasionally Contemporary) romances that focus on Small Towns, Big Hearts, Amazing Grace. She is also a list maker, a lover of dragonflies and holds an advanced degree in the art of procrastination.
Three of Winnie’s books have been nominated for the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award, and one of those nominations resulted in a win.
Winnie loves to hear from readers. You can connect with her on facebook at www.facebook.com/WinnieGriggs.Author or email her at winnie@winniegriggs.com.

59 thoughts on “Playing Chess and Writing”

  2. I haven’t played chess in years and consider myself more of a beginner still but, I love the comparison you made between chess and writing,

  3. Neither do I play chess. It makes sense that all the strategy involved in the game is similar to planning/plotting a novel. But playing chess doesn’t sound fun to me; give me a rousing game of Scrabble!

    • Hi Mary. I love a good game of Scrabble too. But I love games of strategy and puzzle solving – comes from being a math nerd I suppose 🙂

  4. I don’t play chess, but the comparison you make between chess and writing a book makes perfect sense. They both take a lot of strategy and thinking to complete.

  5. I have never played chess. I never met anyone who played. I wish I had because it looks fun. The comparison makes sense though. You write wonderful books!

  8. I know how to set up the board and the moves each piece can make, but I’m no competition to a decent player.

    • It sounds like you have the basics down. All it takes is a bit of practice with a patient opponent 🙂

  9. No I don’t play chess. But after reading about books is like playing chess I see how how the comparison makes perfect sense and thank you for opening my eyes. Very interesting see how they’re so alike.

  10. welcome today. thanks for sharing these thoughts. I learned how to play chess when in high school. dad taught me. he taught me many of what is above. and yes I agree with them, they can be so taken into our own lives. I have not played in way too many years. quilting dash lady at comcast dot net

  11. Hello Winnie! I love the way you described both Chess and writing. I grew up playing chess with my brothers, then with my children, and have played with my grandson also showing him how to play. I’ve never wrote a book, but I have read many! Does that count? Great article!

  12. I have never played chess but my son has. I can see the comparison to what a writer does.

  13. My husband and I used to play chess many years ago. It was a very intricate game which I found more than challenging. This particular game did not last long for me. I am a thinker, but not about game moves. I am more an “in the moment” kind of person or used to be. Today I always try to analyze things, much to the despair of my husband as it drives him nuts. He can’t understand why I should care about various things I/we have no interest in. It is just me, I guess. Anyway, chess had it’s day for me and it is in the past, fortunately for all as I would not be a challenge for anyone nowadays!

    • LOL, we all have our seasons in life – I guess your season with chess is now in the past

    • It does take dedication to learn how to play strategically – I’m afraid I’ve forgotten everything I ever knew about that aspect

  15. No, I don’t play chess. I loved the analogy of chess and reading. Thank you for sharing.

  16. I don’t play chess, but the comparison are interesting. I quilt and I have to plan ahead for the person the quilt is for – their interests, likes and dislikes, and colors. I buy the material figuring which colors look best together. Then I consider the person again when I pick the backing material (fleece which requires straight stitching or cotton blend which is usually with design stitching). The last step is the binding which ties the front and back together. It takes forethought, planning, and sometimes a change in midstream before a nice finished product.

  18. I do play chess. I like the analogy. Another would be building a house: get the pieces needed, build a foundation, build the frame, out in the walks, and then the finishing details.

  19. I necer learned to play chess. Reading your analogy between writing and playing chess reminded me that I wouldn’t be very good at either one. Oh well..

  20. Love the analogy. I play for fun, mostly against a computer because none of my friends play. Tried to get the wife to play but she didn’t get the game. Guess that’s why I do the plotting of our books and she the actual words.

  22. I did try Chess as a younger woman, did OK till my friends improved beyond my ability to concentrate and focus on my strategy. My son, Alex, recently started teaching his 8 year old daughter the game. Listening to his instructions brought back lots of memories on why I was so awful of a player. Your breakdown of the Game of Chess was Spot on. I enjoy writing letters, so I can relate to your comparisons. Great post.

  23. I don’t play chess, but I have played Stratego, which requires protecting your flag while trying to capture the opponent’s flag. I’ve also played Risk with some cutthroat players! I do like the comparisons you made, and feel they were spot on as an editor whose helped shape a plot and helped smooth out some edges!

  24. No one in my family has ever played… I have been curious but never followed through on learning.

  28. Winnie, I enjoyed the correlation between playing chess and writing. Though I don’t play chess, I had to take a quick crash course because I was incorporating a scene between the H/h in my second book in the Brides of New Hope series.

    • Hi Jo-Ann, isn’t it fun the things we get to research when we’re plotting a story?

  29. You aren’t the only one with glitches with the system. It seems to be getting more common all over. Our internet has been acting up for a week. Things are bad tonight, so I’ll be happy if this goes through. (I lost 4 reviews I did last week.)
    Anyway, I think your analogy of chess and writing is very accurate. I have played – very poorly. I never played enough to improve. Even the children decided playing me wasn’t enough of a challenge.
    The only other comparison I can think of would be baking. You need to have all the right ingredients, mix them properly, and bake them properly in order to get a successful end result. Writing is very similar. You have to have the right elements for your story and combine them just the right way to get a good result.
    I hope you are staying cool.

    • Computer problems are particularly irksome aren’t they? And yes on the baking analogy – I used it once in a workshop I presented on developing character backstory 🙂

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