Do You Have a Story?
Of course, you do! It’s your life story or interesting parts of it! Today we live in a world of emails, texts, zoom visits and computer messages. We don’t keep most of them.
In previous years we wrote letters and even mailed actual cards that some of us treasured for years. Many contained important events of our personal history.
Yes, it is convenient to send the emails of today and receive a quick reply. But something important is being lost nowadays. Your story. Your triumphs, the big moments in your life, your times of courage. How did you deal with the unexpected fears and doubts? It could be the years you dreaded tests at school, or moments of love lost or your first love, and even your successes. These events may seem ordinary to you, but they are not to your reader.
Maybe it’s time for you to think about writing a book!
I believe that there is a book inside everyone. It’s just that most people don’t get around to writing it. Of course, that’s okay. You don’t have to write. But when people tell me their story, I am astounded by the challenges they have gone through and their perseverance that make them the strong person they are today.
My first inspiration to write came from reading David McCullough’s book, John Adams. He and his wife Abigail exchanged over one thousand letters when he was in Philadelphia in 1774 helping write the Declaration of Independence. History has those letters.
Okay, so your life history and mine are certainly not as significant historically as Abigail Adams, but your family and many around you have no idea of what your life experiences have been and how inspiring your story really is!
Here are some of the questions and comments I have received ever since my book was published. Maybe these will answer some of your questions.
1. Why should I write a book? How many times have you been told that you have a great story to tell or an event that could help or inspire others?
2. What is your purpose in writing? My purpose was to inspire and encourage others that with God’s help and perseverance, you can have a successful life. Do you want to leave your family story for your kids, or grandkids? For example, my great aunt left letters that I have which were handed down to my mother. I recognize her handwriting. No one else alive does. Consider the legacy that I can leave my family! Now, she is my kids’ great, great aunt, my grandkids’ great great great aunt and their kids’ great, great, great great aunt. History! I’ve even gone to ancestry.com for more information about my great, great, grandparents from Latvia. What a story to leave for future generations!
3. My life is boring compared to yours. Really? What seems commonplace to you is extraordinary to someone else. For example, the life you lead in Southern California or Nebraska is of great interest to someone in New York and vice versa.
4. I don’t have time to write. I didn’t either. Guess what? Neither does anyone else when they start. You write when you can. I started writing my book when I was a busy full-time realtor. I had yellow stickies stuck everywhere, the car, the kitchen table, my bedroom, every time I had a good idea. My friend and mentor, Rich Buhler, who had seven small children, wrote numerous books by getting up early in the morning before work and before the family was up to write a few pages. Most of us have a far easier schedule than he did. After all, we each get the same 24 hours to use as we choose. Some writers can block out a certain period of time each day.
5. How do I start writing? The first baby step is the most important. I learned to just spill the words out with no editing at first. Don’t block anything out. Just get it down. Don’t worry about what comes first. Start by keeping a journal. I have been writing in my diary/journal every night before I go to bed for as long as I can remember, never imagining that it was good practice for writing a book. Some nights it’s a simple entry…errands I ran that day. Other times the entry is an emotional response to an occurrence that day. Get your family blank journals so they can start writing. They will treasure those memories later in life.
6. Isn’t writing a lonely job? No! The amount of wonderful people I have met outside my comfort zone, on my writing journey made it worth the time I spent writing. Most local junior colleges have novel or nonfiction writing classes at night or daytime. I attended one at Anaheim Community College a few years ago. Led by a great teacher, with 10-15 people in the class who were in the same boat as I was, we became friends…people I never would have known. We encouraged each other. Each week we went home and wrote just 10 pages. Everyone got a copy and brought the pages back with their constructive comments. It kept me motivated to go home and write the next 10 pages.
7. Where can I learn more? I attended the SCWC (Southern California Writers Conference), held every year, one of the best in the nation, where I took classes in dialogue, structure, flow, etc. There are similar ones all over the country. There I met professional editors who, for a reasonable fee, worked with me afterward. I could even submit three chapters to several agents for their review.
8. Don’t worry yet about whether you will self-publish your book or try to get published. For now, just enjoy the journey.
So, think about it, my friend! And don’t tell me you’re too old to write. I was a grandmother when I started writing. Winston Churchill was 65 when he became prime minister of England. Ronald Reagan was 69 when he was elected president. Don’t let your story be lost forever in emails and zoom meetings. In fact, email me if you have other questions. I’d love to encourage you just as I have been encouraged.
Annie working with her favorite editors.
Enjoy reading Annie’s recently published inspirational memoir, THAT ONE PERSON, by Annie Farris, written to encourage you in these challenging times. Now available on Amazon for $15.95, and Kindle for $9.99. Endorsed by Pat Boone and 18 others with numerous 5-star reviews. It makes a great gift!
AFTER YOU’VE READ THE BOOK, PLEASE GO TO AMAZON.COM AND WRITE A REVIEW. Amazon will only allow Annie to advertise after she has 100 5 star reviews, a daunting job for a new author!
BUY LINKS:
Paperback and Kindle
Photo credits:
https://unsplash.com/photos/EP6_VZhzXM8
https://www.pexels.com/photo/black-and-red-typewriter-1995842/