What is Your Story?

What is Your Story?
by guest blogger, Annie Evett

The old saw, “write what you know,” is good advice. However, many aspiring writers shy away from exposing their private lives to the public. They mistakenly believe that nothing of importance happens to them and that other people’s lives are far more interesting. But consider this: what is pedestrian or humdrum to you will almost certainly seem exotic to someone else. Accept your past and embrace your experiences. They have shaped you. Don’t compare your story with others. Yours is unique.

Write first. Getting yourself published is not a concern at this time. Just write. Prove to yourself and others that you can do it.

To keep the creative juices flowing, you must write every day. But, beware! Ideas will dry up if you quit writing, even for a few days. Those who intend to write a book are everywhere among us. Far fewer individuals actually realize their vision so talk less and write more.

Write from your passions. Only bored writers write boring stories. Have the courage to dig down deep and bring out the real stories. Talk about your pains and joys and hide those tidbits of secrecy within your characters. That’s what people are interested in. To make an impression on your audience, make your writer’s voice clear, energetic and authentic. If you have a sense of humor, use it. If people don't laugh with you on a regular basis, don't try to be funny. If you like to talk about ideas, sprinkle them liberally throughout your writing. Be yourself. It’s important. Anything less will be unsustainable along your journey.

Writing is more than just sitting down and scribbling whatever comes to mind. To be effective, you must have some inclination toward sentence structure, grammar, and punctuation. Most people can write if they really want to, but learning the craft involves knowledge of plot, theme, and characterization, among other things.

Can anyone write or is it only for the chosen few? Perhaps it’s only for the persistent few who choose to continually hone their skills.

For more great tips, get The Writer's Choice Newsletter at http://www.creativewritinginstitute.com. Fear not. They won't sell your address or spam you.