You’ve been dabbling with writing a while, maybe years. You have an idea for a book, and jot down snippets or a plan for it every now and then, but you’ve yet to commit to it seriously so far. You might say to yourself ‘well I like my story, but no one is ever going to read it’, ‘no one else will think it’s good’, ‘I can always write this story later… in a few years… when I can work less… one day’. Those are excuses! Excuses made by fear, doubt and insecurity, but I’m here to tell you that you can’t listen to those feelings. Every writer out there has them, I promise you. Even experienced writers still doubt their latest idea, or look back at old work and think they could do better. By giving in to that fear and doubt, you’re keeping yourself from achieving something amazing… and you’re keeping others from a new potential favourite read.
The world needs your story. Why? Because someone out there needs it. For someone out there, your story is solace, it’s comfort, it will make them feel like they’re not alone. Having an idea for a story, a desire to write a book is special. Millions of people say they’d love to write a book one day, but most don’t follow through. It’s not a big goal or passion for most. If you have an idea and a dream you should hold onto it! I’ll admit I’m probably exaggerating by saying millions, but according to The New York Times 81% of people asked said they want to write their book but only 1% actually do it. Are you going to be in the majority who just let’s that idea pass by without taking the chance? Or will you fall into that 1%? The few who can say, I had an idea and I did it. I wrote a book. I’m an author. Not convinced? Take a look at what some other authors have said…
‘I wrote the draft to a story when I was just five years old, only coherent and readable to me. I grew up and published it. The storybook became a best seller and a double award-winner. A draft doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be written.’ – Kirsty-Louise Garbutt, children’s author
Kirsty-Louise Garbutt is absolutely right! There is no such thing as a perfect first draft. Famously, Neil Gaiman said that the first draft is just you telling yourself the story. Once you know that story yourself, you can then work on how you tell others your story. On editing your mistakes, changing sentence structure to sound better, to read more smoothly. To make the story entertaining and interesting from start to finish. Your first draft is perfect just because it is written. That’s all a first draft has to do – exist. If you’re worried about your abilities as a writer then you need to do the only thing you can to improve – get writing! The more you practice this craft, the better you will get.
We all improve and develop our skill every single time we write. Every scene, every idea, every book pushes us and encourages us to do better. Take a look at authors who’ve had long careers – read their first work and their latest, you’ll notice a difference in skill because it’s in our nature to get better with time and use, no different than exercising our muscles. Want to develop your skill with only 15 minutes a day? Take this 30 Day Writing Challenge!
‘You should write your story because no one knows your story the way you do. No one can tell it the way you can. One of the biggest worries I had was that, because I write fantasy, it wouldn’t be ‘original’, but all stories come from something, somewhere, and only I could tell the story I wanted to. Only you can give your characters life; no one else can bring them to life the way you can, and no one will be able to offer a look into their story the way you will be able to. Write your story, because if you don’t, no one will.’ – J. R. Rainville, adventure fantasy author
J. R. Rainville makes a fantastic point! Whilst there are no new stories and only 7 basic plots, every writer has a different take and a different style. Your specific story is unique to you! And if we’re being honest readers tend to have favourite plots, favourite character archetypes and favourite tropes – favourites that they look for again and again in new reads. You yourself probably have certain aspects you love to read or watch regularly. Some people love a good HEA [happy ever after], some love car chases and explosions, others love emotional stories that make people cry. Look at your own shelves or your Netflix watch list and take note of the similarities between your most liked.
I highly recommend for the fiction writers here, to read The 7 Basic Plots by Christopher Booker, it’s a fantastic book that goes into detail about the different plots in fiction writing and why there are no new stories. But despite the sound of it, it’s not going to make you feel hopeless about your idea – it’s going to inspire you to write that story! That unique story that only you can tell.
‘Just as dancers and singers and painters can inspire, evoke emotion, and bring joy to this world, so can your words. But the world can never know what doesn’t exist, so don’t give up!’ – S. K. Sayari, fantasy author
I love this perspective from S. K. Sayari and it’s a very good point to consider your why. What is the reason behind you wanting to write a book? What’s the purpose? What do you want to achieve? The why behind your passion should always drive your actions. You might want to write to bring joy to people. You may want to provide support for a problem. You may wish to make a difference in the world. Dig deep and focus in on this purpose and use it to help you achieve your dream of writing a book. Let it be your motivator, your guide in decisions, the thing that you can fall back on when you’re wanting to give up.
Art is unbelievably subjective and as such there is someone out there who is guaranteed to love your words. It doesn’t matter if your idea follows very popular trends or if you’re planning to write very niche fiction – there’s an audience for it. There’s someone out there with a desire to read what you have to offer. More than likely, a lot more than just one person. So stop putting it off for another day. Stop telling yourself the idea if no good or you’re not capable – you can learn and ideas can evolve. Give yourself the benefit of the doubt and give the world a new story to consume. The world needs your story.
S. M. MITCHELL 