Has anyone ever told you that you have an interesting story to tell? Do you possess knowledge or a talent that people repeatedly seek out? Or do you simply have the plot to the next bestseller or Academy Award winning movie rattling around in your head?
If any of this applies to you, you’ve probably thought about writing a book (or a screenplay, or a blog, or a podcast). But then you second-guess yourself because, well, that’s what we do as humans. We take a creative, out-of-the-box, crazy idea and try to make sense of it. The problem is logic and creativity are like two parallel lines; they will never meet. So if you’re waiting for the right time to write your story, you will wait forever. Because there is always going to be something more important that takes precedent over realizing your dream; bills to pay, kids to raise, a career to build. Whatever.
But these distractions merely camouflage the bigger issue, which is fear. You’ve probably never written anything before, so now that you have a story to tell you’re afraid you won’t be able to write it, because you don’t consider yourself a writer. And because of that you’re afraid you’ll be judged. And because of that you’re afraid you may not finish your manuscript. And because of that…
Do you see how quickly you go down a rabbit hole? This fear-based line of thinking is probably the most common reason people don’t write their stories. And at the end of the day you’re left asking yourself: Should I write my story?
Can I really write my own story?
Although you’re the only one who can answer that question, I can at least lead you to your answer. As The Memoir Midwife I’ve helped hundreds of people give birth to their stories. And in my experience, there is one common denominator that every author possesses: passion. If it’s strong enough, passion can overcome fear. Passion is what makes people get up an extra hour earlier in the morning to write. Passion is what convinces someone to take a part time job to pay for self-publishing their own book. Passion is the fire in the belly that sparks belief in oneself that they can write their own story. And as it evolves, passion is what turns writers into authors.
How do you know if you have enough passion to go the distance? One way to find out is to take my free Tell Me Your Story assessment. It’s ten simple questions that give you insight into how serious you are about writing your story. There is no right or wrong outcome to this, because if you aren’t ready to tell your story, then you should let that idea go and move on. But if you are ready, this assessment gives you some things to think about. It’s absolutely free and you have no obligation in any way. However, if you want to discuss your answers with me to get further clarity, I’m happy to do so free of charge.
So what are you waiting for? You have nothing to lose. Click HERE to download your copy of my free Tell Me Your Story assessment. Isn’t it time you found out if there’s an author inside of you waiting to come out?
Stacy Dymalski on a good hair day
Known as The Memoir Midwife, Stacy Dymalski is a story editor, writing coach, and film producer, and has helped hundreds of people find the courage to tell their stories. Whether you want to write a book, blog, podcast, or movie, Stacy can help you get unstuck (even if you're not a writer) and move in the direction of creative success. Check out the testimonials on her website, or click HERE to learn how Stacy can help you with your writing project.
