"My life's not that interesting."
That's what someone wrote in the comment section of a survey I sent a while ago.
It's not what I expected, and I don't believe it's true.
After all, what makes an interesting life or story to one person may not be interesting to another. Is an interesting life one with lots of travel? A successful career? Life on a farm? Sailing around the world? Lots of dinner parties? Being captain of the kickball team?
Any one of those things might fill your days, but I'm not sure it would guarantee a good story. What makes a good story is your take on things ... how you see things, and why they matter.
That's what people want to read.
Stories that offer a behind-the-scenes look at how you created or experienced something.
The stories that resonate with people are the ones they can relate to ... stories that remind them about something they've experienced ... or want to experience.
I like to write about the curious ways commonplace events surprise me.
That's what someone wrote in the comment section of a survey I sent a while ago.
It's not what I expected, and I don't believe it's true.
After all, what makes an interesting life or story to one person may not be interesting to another. Is an interesting life one with lots of travel? A successful career? Life on a farm? Sailing around the world? Lots of dinner parties? Being captain of the kickball team?
Any one of those things might fill your days, but I'm not sure it would guarantee a good story. What makes a good story is your take on things ... how you see things, and why they matter.
That's what people want to read.
Stories that offer a behind-the-scenes look at how you created or experienced something.
The stories that resonate with people are the ones they can relate to ... stories that remind them about something they've experienced ... or want to experience.
I like to write about the curious ways commonplace events surprise me.
The stories you tell could be about pets you've had, your first job, how you started your business, or what it was like that first ... and only time ... you went to summer camp. Write about what you've seen, where you've been, and what you learned.
It's our common experiences, disappointments, life-affirming joy, and successes that people connect with.
What did you see? How did it make you feel? What did you learn?
Write about that.
The more you write the easier it gets.
And remember, people love stories, and you've got some good ones.
