The Art of Writing Your Story
October 14 2015
Some of my favorite authors have argued that all writers are equal in their ability to tell a story that no one else can. Why? Because no one has experienced what you have, no one thinks just like you, no one has your friends or peculiar family members. Writing as an individual, you are able to write what no one else can because no one will put two words together exactly like you might.
It’s a powerful thought; that no matter what we write, good or bad, if we write from our own lives and experiences there is always going to be an overwhelming amount of originality to it.
For a short time I was obsessed with reading other’s life stories, books like “My Year with Eleanor” and “Kisses from Kate.” These were stories that only these authors could tell, and to top it off they were good writers.
“Do not forget in the darkness what you have been promised in the light.”
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Katie J. Davis, Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption
That being said, I think sometimes we all are harsher judges of our lives then others might be. Yes, if you are going to write about your life, you should consider yourself a character in your story, so you should have a subject or obstacle to overcome. But sometimes, they don’t have to be big ones.
I’ve read books with both big and small obstacles; individuals overcoming diseases, going to heaven and coming back, picking a path in their life to follow, and simple stories about what to do post-college, how to live in a big city, or how to raise children with a sense of humor. All contribute to a greater meaning and are inspiring, interesting, and funny.
“Nothing alive can stand still, it goes forward or back. Life is interesting only as long as it is a process of growth; or, to put it another way, we can only grow as long as we are interested.”
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So what is your story? What makes you unique to the world? Take a few minutes to jot down a list, and if you find yourself inspired by what you might be willing to share, write it.