They say we all have a story inside of us. It might be the story of our lives, the memoir that tells the life and times of yours truly. Or it might be a detailed history of a subject you care deeply about, diving deep into the background of your favourite sports team or hobby.
Mostly, though? That story is a piece of fiction. It’s an idea that we have, that we nurture, plot, and think about. You may have even sat down to write on a few occasions; have several thousand words spread across a few haphazardly saved documents. You know you want to write it, but somehow, it’s not happening. You read through the likes of booksiren, skim through novels by your favourite authors, consider all the great books of history, and think of how you would like to write one of your own…
And then, you don’t.
If there is an idea you have been considering writing for a long time, then it can feel like a wasp caught in a bottle. There is a way it can get out and be free to explore the world, but it just doesn’t quite seem to happen. Instead, the idea flits around angrily, crashing into near-invisible barriers, never quite making it to the top and emerging into the world.
Well – maybe it’s time to consider letting it free, and bust through the reasons that you haven’t done so already.
“I don’t have the time!”
By far the biggest lament of those who dream of writing: the lack of time. It’s probably justifiable, too; very few of us go through our lives with acres of time that we have to fill. Instead, we rush from task to task, juggling wildly and wondering how we’re ever going to keep everything up.
The problem is… you’re not suddenly going to get time in the future. The world is not going to stop and make a space for you to write in; if you want to do it, then you need to find the time. That might mean a bit less time in front of Netflix or getting up an hour earlier in the morning – whatever it takes to set that idea free.
“I don’t know if I’m any good!”
What, you think, is the point of spending all that time and effort writing, if you’re not actually good at it?
Constructive criticism is a huge part of writing, and if you decide to seek it out, you will find many volunteers at online forums who are more than happy to give it. Look for feedback and ideas for improvement. Most importantly, sharing your work like this will allow you to hear opinions on whether your time is worth it – and give you a chance to improve.
“I have writers’ block!”
It happens; you know there is a story in you somewhere, but it’s not coming out. Most writers find the best cure for writers’ block is… writing. Writing anything at all, even if it’s not relevant to your existing story. Just get back in the habit of getting words on a page and soon, everything will begin to flow once more.