I facilitate writing groups for children, teens, and adults. One of the things I tell the participants is there is no one way to write a story. If you get 10 authors in a room, you will find 10 different ways to write a story, along with different styles. The things they may have been taught in school are not the only way to write a story.
This advice came home to me in the last couple of weeks. I had a crisis of confidence, thinking that I wasn’t good enough based on a throwaway comment by someone. It didn’t help that I was recovering from influenza A and already feeling low. It was the words of some friends and fans that brought me back to reality.
I write in a variety of styles and genres. My brain simply can’t pick one.
When I write non-fiction, I write as I speak. It’s a warm, chatty style. It’s not academic writing. This was a style I struggled with when I was at university. I spoke with someone who said that is one reason she loves my non-fiction work, because it feels like I’m having a chat with them about the topic.
When I write fiction, I write the stories that bring me joy. I work with editors and mentors to polish the writing and I know there is improvement that could be made. I also know that my writing does improve over time the more I write and create.
I write the way I write. It’s not the way others may create a story, but it’s what suits me. People who have read my stories enjoy them and I have people waiting for the next one.
One thing I’m having to remind myself is that I am the writer I am and not someone else. The beauty of the creative space is there’s something for everyone. For people who want something more literary or different to what I write, there are authors who write stories for them.
This is not to say I won’t ever write something more literary, for right now, I’m having fun with the stories I’m working on and that’s the most important thing.
If you’re a writer, I encourage you to embrace the writer you are, and have fun creating every story. Your enjoyment will show through the words on the page.
