By Deren Bott
I’ve often heard the saying, “Write the story that you want to read.”
Isn’t that why we write in the first place?
Sure, there are different reasons why we start to write and why we keep at it; but we all have a story that we want to share and remember―even if it’s just between us and that piece of paper.
Newer writers and aspiring authors often start as starry-eyed idealists, thinking that they’ll be able to write the perfect story the first try but begin to grow frustrated when it doesn’t work out. Even seasoned writers aren’t immune to this. We begin to wonder if our plot really is original enough, if our characters really are real enough, if the conflict really is compelling enough, if the story really is good enough.
We see the success stories of our favorite books and authors and wonder if we can measure up. We wonder if we can do it.
Sometimes we grow discouraged and lose sight of why we started writing in the first place.
It’s in that moment that we need to step back and look at the bigger picture.
For example, have you ever noticed that no two authors are alike? That they each have a different style? Different strengths? Have you ever read a book that you fell in love with the characters but thought that the ending could have been better? Or vice versa? Every writer has their own strengths and weaknesses, but, more importantly, they have their own perspective.
While writing the story we want to read is a great starting point, it’s even more important that we follow the advice, “Write the story only you can write.”
Do you know who is the only person who can write your story? That’s right, you.
The heart and soul of the author are the central pieces to any story whether it’s about magic, far-away galaxies, romance, or anything else. When times get tough, remember why you started writing in the first place.
There is only one person who sees things the way that you do, and only one person who is able to tell the story the way that you would. It doesn’t matter if it’s the same word count as someone else’s, if that tricky transition is as good as your favorite author’s, or any of the other endless comparisons that you could make.
The important thing is that it’s yours.