Your Stories, They Matter

I want you to think about something; how do we know our history? You’re probably like, “Oh, that’s easy, people wrote down the big events of their time.” or something along the lines of that. And that’s the answer! But have you ever thought about the actual people that wrote the books, scrolls, and papers that is our history? How much time they would have had to give up in order to make sure the future generations knew their own backstory? Their stories mattered- a lot. But here’s the thing: so do yours.

When someone sits down to write a novel, they go in feeling confident and ready for their story to be put on paper. But 97% of those people don’t ever finish it, and it sits in a distant Google Doc or in the middle of a notebook buried under others for a long, long time. So here’s my encouragement to you- even when the writing becomes confusing, or the story twists in a way you didn’t want, don’t stop. Reach your goal, and be able to say you did only 3% of the people in the world finish.

Here’s my top tips for you as you set out to write down your story:

Don’t tell yourself that you’re a terrible writer. That phrase is a dream killer right there. You might only get a few pages in before you start criticizing your work; “It’s boring” or “My characters have about as many emotions as mannequins” can shut down your tale real fast. The fix for that? Tell yourself you’ll learn from your mistakes, and keep writing. Complete what you set out to do, and afterwards you can go back and make edits, but never talk yourself down to the point of quitting.
If you find a glaring scene or phrase you want to edit, make note of it in a designated spot so you can remember what you disliked about your story. And trust me; by the time you’re done with draft number three or four, your story will be so much better because your inner editor will have taken the reins to make your tale a beautiful piece of art.
If you come across a scene that you don’t feel like you’re in the right mood to write, don’t skip it entirely. You can make note of it and continue, then when you feel good enough to write it, go back and do just that. Or you can try a trick that works for me. Create playlists of music that match the feeling of the scene, and play that for a while before you dive into your writing. And if you’re not a big music person, replay a memory in your head where you felt that emotion that is being portrayed.
Sticky notes. Quite honestly, I might be a little sticky note obsessed, but scribbling ideas down that can’t quite take place in your tale yet and sticking them onto some random surface where you can find them again (I have been known to stick them on my water bottle, computer, lamp shade, inside of a frequently read novel, and once even on my globe) is highly satisfying. Or even if you have a thought that has been bugging you all day but you can’t get it out of your head, write it on the novel-saver that is a sticky note.
Last but certainly not least, believe in yourself and your capability as an up-and-coming writer. So keep your pencil moving, your ideas flowing, and remember- every word you write brings you closer to the story only you can tell.

Till my pen meets the paper again,

Tatum