It’s easy for a lot of us to lose our way in the middle of a writing project. We start out fine, but then we get confused. We start to ask ourselves: where is this story going? What is the theme? Why am I not feeling this any more?
We can also doubt whether the story has a place in the world. We can start to wonder: Will anyone want to read this?
Here’s one question that I’ve started asking myself about every writing project, and I’ve started asking other people when they tell me they’re feeling stuck or lost in the weeds. It’s very simple!
Why do you want to write THIS story?
Out of all the stories in the world you could have picked, you chose this one. If you heard this type of story was trendy or hot, or if the concept simply interested you on an intellectual level, you might have started it without making a real connection with it. Otherwise, though, there’s a personal reason why you picked this story, even if you’re not aware of it yet.
I heard someone from Pixar (sorry I don’t remember who; I’ve heard a few people from Pixar speak over the years) talk about this principle. The movie Up began with the drawing of a house being carried away by hundreds of balloons. The artist who drew it had a lot of responsibilities and pressures, like most of us do, and the drawing symbolized his longing to float away from it all and go far, far away. Preserving that fantasy of escapism was crucial to the movie.
I believe we all start writing projects with an emotional need or something we’re yearning to say, even if we aren’t aware of exactly what it is. Identifying it can make it easier to figure out what we’re doing and give us confidence.
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Here’s how I would answer this question for my current writing projects. I think that can help explain what I’m talking about.
I wrote my romantic Southern ghost story, Wicked Garden, because I wanted people to feel brave enough to confront and overcome their pasts. I also wanted to show that a person (in this case, my hero) can struggle with mental illness and still be charming, kind, sexy, and strong.
I’m working on my story about a medieval knight who was turned into a statue and stayed that way for hundreds of years because I want to express the joy of simply being alive and fresh appreciation for the familiar world around us. While I’ve never been turned to stone, I’m often “living in my head” and I can certainly feel stuck.
I’m writing my paranormal romance series because I have a yearning for physical heroism and self-sacrifice that just isn’t met by my regular life as a writer. It’s the same kind of urge that makes people want to be soldiers, but in this case, I’m telling stories instead.
What about you? What’s the drive or urge behind the writing you’re doing? I’d love to hear about it! Have a great week, and happy writing!
The thing that drives my writing is personal. A lot of writing stems from something that directly or indirectly affected me, like a parent’s divorce or a breakup. So what I write reflects how I feel. There are times where I feel I need to write something to let go of frustrations. That’s what drives my writing.
Hi, George! I don’t know if you write fiction or nonfiction, but even when I’m writing something that’s completely fictional, I think it really helps me to draw from real-life feelings and situations… it gives the story more authenticity, I guess. So I totally know what you’re saying. Thanks for commenting — hope your writing’s going great!
When I began my retelling of The Little Mermaid, it was from a love for the original story and for mermaids in general. As I developed the story and decided how I wanted my mermaid and her prince to be, it actually became about my own introversion and social phobia. The world is so noisy at times and it’s easy to get lost in the hubbub, particularly if you’re one of the quiet ones. As my heroine discovers, if you can find someone who hears what you can’t say, that’s a rare and precious thing.
Kimberly! Since I’m familiar with the work now, it’s especially fun to hear about the impetus behind it. “if you can find someone who hears what you can’t say, that’s a rare and precious thing” — ahhh. That really touches my heart.
I am writing a book my twin daughters starting writing when they were seven years old. They have since graduated from college with one finishing her Master’s degree. It is a labor of love.
My other piece is about getting to know my father through a diary he left me after passing away. Getting to know him and relating in my own life has been a journey. It is challenging, raw and in real time. I share personal events that occurred in my own life and how I have come full circle in my understanding of life. I’ve known hurt, violence, guilt, shame even divorce and I am still alive. The trials of fighting inner demons from outer influences has caused me to shed my skin, morphing me into the gem I have always been but am now coming to meet in person. Thank you.
Hi, Carla. Thank you for sharing this. These sound like such emotional projects, each in their own way.
“morphing me into the gem I have always been but am now coming to meet in person” — wow, I love that. Good luck on your projects!
I recently started a horror story that’s been on my mind for years. My (vague) motivation was to have readers experience the terror a haunted–and mysterious–spot in nature inspires. But now I realize that’s only half the tale. The other half is who the protagonist is, what drives her to explore this spot, and what does she lose and learn. That’s what I need to figure out next. Thank you for the provocative prompt!
Ahh Melissa, if this doesn’t sound like my kind of story 🙂 Hope it goes great!
My current WIP is about overcoming terrible mistakes from the past and not letting them define you forever, accepting people who are weird or different, and of course, True Love. 🙂
😀 I love all of these themes!
It’s so strange you should write this now. I have been trying to publish a book and have got caught up in the web of rejections and deceptive publishers out there. I was thinking of stopping, but then I thought like you did. Why did I write this book in the first place? Well to give a voice to all our forgotten war widows of this almost 16 year war we are in. It bothered me so much that the media talks of everything else except there parentless children and there suffering spouses. I needed to write it is more like it just to make them have a reason to smile.
Rebecca, you are absolutely right — this is incredibly important subject matter, and we never hear anything about it. I’m glad you’re not giving up!
I visited the Pioneer Women’s Hall of Fame (PWHF) in Alice Springs (Australia) today and received an increased boost of motivation. You see I’m writing my Mother’s story – she didn’t just break the glass ceiling for women in the workforce, for her the ceiling never existed! A pioneer of women in the executive workforce (from 1949 onwards), mentoring others to step out of society’s expectations of women and the disadvantaged whatever their perceived handicap. The PWHF is interested in Mamma’s story. The next part of the manuscript is also earmarked for critique at the next Writers’ Group on 16 August. So I’d better get a move on and write!
Suzanne, your mom sounds amazing. And how great that you’ve got a critique coming up! Sometimes it’s good to have a deadline, at least for me! This sounds so motivating.
Mine is an account of what it’s like to have a chronic illness and struggle with being believed. I’m writing it because I’m angry and resentful, and I also want to correct some common misconceptions people have about invisible illness. The actual book will be fairly quirky and light, but it’s definitely got bitterness behind it. I have no problem with that. 🙂
Lia, I’ve heard from a few people about the frustration of “invisible” illness… I bet a lot of people will also read it because they can identify!
Hi Bryn, for me it’s not so much keeping my writing on track as utilising the opportunities that arise which will enhance the final writing project. I’ll give a couple of examples. Writing my mother’s story deciding whether it is more akin to the style of a novel or purely factual and I received an invitation to interview my mother for the company Boral. Mamma was their first female accountant in 1949 and the company celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2016. So, to cut a long story short, my article on Mamma was published in December. Straying from writing the story – yes, but that section of her life in the story will be much richer because of the interview for Boral.
The second writing is of transformation and chronic pain – what style to write? At a crucial time of decision making (early 2015) I was offered and accepted writing a column in an magazine writing on that very subject! A book??? Stay tuned…
I write my story because I’ve had a few scenes in my head for years. When I’d written those scenes down, with different characters than I use now, I thought: maybe I can make a book out of this. Then it became a real project for me and I saw the story that sort of connected those first scenes. I made up some better and more original characters, and now I’m surprised at how well it goes.
I know what you mean, Kiete… in the case of my paranormal romance series, it’s the story that I tell myself before I go to sleep at night. For me it always starts with some pivotal scenes, too!
Nice picture. i find it very inspiring and spiritual. “Mindful”, that is so much better.
Well, I’m a ghostwriter, so most of the time my motivation is to tell the story my client wants. That said, the reason I write at all is because I truly enjoy sharing good, uplifting stories. I’m an incurable romantic and don’t really care for racy or ‘steamy’ scenes, so Inspirational, Christian, or just plain ‘Sweet’ Romance was a no-brainer. That doesn’t mean there’s no conflict. With your previous post on 50 Romance Plot ideas, I can work with (and have done so several times!) many of them, so my clients are usually pleased with my work.
But to answer why I want to write THIS story each time I sit down to write a new one: Because I feel an urgent desire to relay something I truly believe, and that is — Love Conquers All, and in it’s purest form it is Unstoppable!! 🙂
Robin, ghost writing must be fascinating — I bet it has a lot of challenges and satisfactions! I write racy stuff myself, but it’s not for everyone, and I think a lot of readers are looking for more sweet romance. I think the fact that Amazon added a “Clean and Wholesome” category in the past year indicates that they’re seeing more readers who are looking for that kind of story. But you and I totally agree with love in its purest form being unstoppable! (I like how you put that!)
I’ve read your e-mail: Why do you want to write THIS story?
I’m not from your Country and I’m not a professional writer, but I like to write. I just finished a hard SCIENCE FICTION BOOK named ALPHA ORIONIS – A VOYAGE TO THE CENTER OF THE GALAXY. It has been given for two editors but I don’t have any answer so far. I felt very interesting your “point of doubt” – Why did you write this story? Your question made me think about and I’m also asking myself why am I writing the present story, also a hard science fiction, that is interlaced with the above mentioned book? Thinking about your question I would say that I’m writing hard science fiction stories because this is a moment I can show people who like to read science fiction evolving also some serious information. I’m not sure that this type of story under your point of view correct. I would appreciate your comments. Thank you
EINAR
Hi Einar, it’s great to hear from you! It sounds like you are motivated to explore the intersection between invented stories and real science, and I think that’s so cool. It makes me think about how much science fiction in the past has accurately predicted the future.
Good luck with your work! If you would like to share an excerpt, I host a “WIP Wednesday” (or “Work in Progress Wednesday”) the first Wednesday of every month, where people share parts of what they are working on. It’s this Wednesday the 3rd — feel free to participate!