Writing for Yourself: Create Stories that Captivate You

When I was a young writer, one of the most common pieces of advice I got from my teachers was to write what I knew. But as a seven-year-old kid with stories in my head, I remembered feeling like I didn’t know nearly enough.

I knew that cheetahs could run fast and that my older brother was way better at video games than I was, but I didn’t want to write about that. So, I threw my teacher’s advice out the proverbial window and wrote about things I didn’t know: how children turned into dragons, what happened when a child transformed into a Pikachu, what it felt like when someone became a string of digital code.

When I was in school, all I wanted to do was play pretend in my composition book. I would rush through math tests and reading time just so I could get back to my story.

So, what changed?

If you’re like me, you’ve probably felt a similar way about your writing. You may even have encountered the dreaded writer’s block. Sometimes, however, the issue isn’t knowing what comes next or how to write the next scene or section of your piece. For many writers, myself included, the greatest obstacle can be finding the desire to write in the first place.

So, what can you do?

Why Is It Hard to Write for Ourselves?

Before we can find a solution, we need to understand why we’re struggling to begin with.

For many writers, especially those who start young, writing offers an opportunity for escape. Writing gives many a place where the rules of reality fall away. When we write, we can be anything, do anything. When the world feels regulated and predictable, writing allows us to step outside of our expectations.

Unfortunately, as we get older, many of us lose track of the reprieve our writing can provide. We become better manipulators of language, but with that skill comes the knowledge that our first drafts often need a lot of work before they’re ready for the global stage.

While knowing your audience is critical for the success of your work, that awareness can stifle our attempts to get down that story, blog post, essay, or poem to begin with. It’s no wonder so many writers struggle to set themselves in front of that blank text document.

In other words, many of us are so busy writing for our audience that we forget to write for ourselves.

How to Write for Yourself as an Author

In my mind, one of the most harmful myths is that of the long-suffering artist. Hemingway equated writing to sitting down in front of a typewriter and bleeding, after all.

Without dipping into the mental health discussion, writing doesn’t need to be painful. Sure, it often requires diving into emotionally fraught topics and stories, and the editing process isn’t always an enjoyable one.

While the bleeding artist trope helps some authors return to their writing even when they don’t want to, it stops others from questioning when the writing process becomes unenjoyable. I’ve identified a couple ways to bring joy back into the writing process.   

Keep Yourself and Your Readers Guessing

Reignite your passion for your piece by treading into unplotted scenes.

One of the primary tricks to keeping your readers invested in your story is getting them to continue asking, “What will happen next?” We can use the same tool to keep ourselves coming back to the page.

If you’re an outliner, try approaching your next work with a little less structure in place. Instead of detailing each scene or story beat, place waypoints along the path of your plot and leave space for your characters and your writing to surprise you.

Here are a few tips for adding more discovery to your story:

1.      Challenge your characters. As you’re writing, ask yourself what the worst potential outcome for you characters in this scenario could be and write that scene. This is an effective way to keep your plot marching forward and increase tension in your piece.

2.      Introduce mysteries. Even if one of your characters is a know-it-all, bookish type, there are still things they might not have all the answers to. Questions create a clear path for your characters and establish motivation. Having a plot point that is a mystery even to you will motivate you to write out the conclusion. Let go of your expectations of perfection and play.

3.      Write with a prompt. Especially for writers who like a plan, free writing can feel intimidating. Use a prompt generator to get you started. If you’re writing a novel, tailor the prompt to fit into your next scene or play with it to make it work. While it might feel challenging at first, this kind of exercise helps writers jumpstart that state of flow.

Write Stories that Excite You

For most writers, crafting compelling stories might be a calling, but it is not a vocation. That means we must make time for our writing amidst a myriad of other responsibilities: child care, going to work, connecting with friends and loved ones, grocery shopping, taking care of fur babies, etc. After all that, it can be difficult to make time for work that can be as emotionally taxing as writing.

So, if we’re going to prioritize writing, we need to make sure that the practice is as fulfilling or beneficial as all our other duties.

When I was a kid, I didn’t write about dragons because I thought readers would enjoy it. I spent my free time scribbling in my composition book because I loved daydreaming about the fire-breathing tyrants. The fulfillment I got from spending time with these creatures brought me a sense of novelty and joy.

Sometimes when we start out writing a short story or novel, we lose track of the passion and interest that got us writing in the first place. Here are questions you can ask yourself to add some kindling to that fire:

·         How can I bring one of my other interests into the novel?

·         What is something one of my characters is fascinated by that I could include here?

·         Which character’s perspective am I most excited to explore right now?

If drafting your novel or short story offers an excuse to engage with something that brings you joy, you will feel more motivated to return to your narrative. Are you fascinated by tea? Consider making one of your characters a tea afficionado. Do you love studying horses? Introduce a scene where jousting takes center stage.

Don’t worry about how these scenes or characters fit into the broader plot of your piece. Keep an open mind, and you may be surprised where these scenes lead you.

Need Help with Your Novel or Short Story?

At Work Done Write, we understand that every writer's path is unique, and that's why we offer professional consultation services to help you find a creative practice that works for you. We provide editing, ghostwriting, consultations, and mentorship to help you get back on track with your story. If you're ready to take your writing journey to the next level, contact Work Done Write today. Let's unlock your full writing potential together and make your literary dreams a reality. Happy writing!