I write what I want to read, because in the end, that’s what writing is for me. I think sometimes authors can get caught up in what they *should* write or what the market trends are and I don’t judge those who hope to break into the industry by writing in a popular genre. However, it’s easy to lose steam with a story if it’s not something you’re passionate about. Like any form of art, writing is work (I see it as a fun hobby myself, but it’s still work) and it does take time, emotions, and much thought. So if you’re going to spend weeks or months working on a project, it might as well be something you really want to write.

Sometimes as you’re writing along, the story will be on fire at the start, but then it starts to lose steam at the middle – if this happens, it’s probably a sign that you need to step back a bit and reassess where you want the story to go. The middle can be the hardest point for some stories, because it’s the bridge from start to finish. It can also be where the climax happens before a strong ending.

Remind yourself how big this story is for you and how you want it to play out – it’s your creation and you can make it as deep, exciting, emotional, or adventurous as you want it to be. I also think it’s a good idea to not think too much about the details as you write the first draft – writing the first draft is the main goal, because you’ll have something to revise and edit later once it’s done. This is, of course, my opinion and not something you need to follow. I’m just sharing what seems to work for me since I’ve got 14 stories published. It’s not a profound number by any means, but the fact that I’ve been able to get them out there within 11 years shows that something must be working.

I swear that the thing which keeps me the most inspired for my own writing is that I write what I want to read – I think of stories I’ve always wanted to read and then try to write that to the best of my ability. I’ve also found that imagining it as a movie can really help with the sensory details. You never know – one day an indie film maker could stumble upon your work and want to transform your concept into a movie (Heck, some people even get called by Netflix). One of the biggest compliments I can receive on my writing is when someone says they imagined it playing out as a movie. That’s always the goal.

So, if you find yourself often stuck with your story ideas – the outlines you created aren’t keeping you on track, the ideas you have excite you at first, but then die out – maybe you could try writing something that’s extra entertaining and engaging for yourself. Forget the trends and what other people will think. Maybe that’s the key to finding the story you’ve always wanted to write. And trust me, if you love it and genuinely try to make it the best it can be, people will enjoy it and resonate with it (Maybe not everyone will love it, but no story has that power anyway).

Maybe that’s what writing is really about – letting go of that fear of judgement and people not liking you for what you write. When you’re true to yourself, you’ll attract those who really like you and you’ll retract those who don’t relate to you and your writing at all. So, write what you love and you’ll be happier in the long run.

I hope you enjoyed my post! Until next time, take care and happy writing/blogging! Xx