March 28, 2011

Announcement first, then today’s blog post… For those who wrote and asked when More Writer’s First Aid would be a print book, you can now buy a trade paperback at Amazon.com. Many of you are just like me–and still prefer a non-electronic book to hold. Comments from reviewers and bloggers can be found on my website.

 

What Am I Called to Write?

Do you have a writing gift? Do you have a knack with words? Do you feel an  inner desire to write? Most of you who read this blog said a resounding “yes!” to those questions a long time ago.

And yet, one of the most common email or conference questions I hear is, “How do I know what I’m supposed to write?”

So Many Possibilities!

Sometimes the confusion is about subject matter. Should you write homeschool educational materials? Tips on raising children?Picture books that help preschoolers overcome fears? Humorous books to make teens laugh?

Sometimes the question involves age groups. Should you focus on preschoolers,early childhood, lower or upper elementary, YA, adults? Should you zero in on one age group or be flexible, writing for all ages?

Sometimes we wonder about form. Should we try a verse novel? Rhyming picture books? Series fiction? Nonfiction with photographs? Hardcover stand-alone novels?

Clues to the Answers

The following set of questions from The Soul Tells a Story by Vinita Hampton Wright are some ways you can explore those questions and perhaps find some answers. Take time with each question–each one serves a particular purpose.

• The activity that gives me greatest joy is…
• The good qualities that best describe my life are…
• The help that people often solicit from me is…
• The part of my personality that I would most hate to lose is…
• The work that is most satisfying to me is…
• The activity that I feel drawn to, even when it’s scary, is…

Finding Your Writing Niche

When I began writing thirty years ago, I only knew two things: I loved to read, and I loved my small children. I read the ICL ad and something went off inside of me, like a little burst of fireworks.  Me? A writer? Neat!

But what kind of writing?

I assumed, because my children were newborn, two and five, I would write stories for the very young. But by trial and error over two years’ time, while selling fiction and nonfiction for preschool through adult ages, I finally settled on middle-grade fiction as my first love. I occasionally write other things, but always come back to that.

You’ll find your answers in much the same way. Take time to explore. It’s an exciting time of your writing life!

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2 Comments »

1. 

   I often ask my students to free write about “I want to write about…” but then halfway through, I stop them and say, “Now write – I don’t want to write about…” And very often what comes out in the second part is the story they want and need to tell, but fear is stopping them. It’s a great exercise to try!

   Comment by Sherryl — March 30, 2011 @ 1:00 am

2. 

   Sherryl, I recall trying this years ago and being astounded at the differences! I should remember to do this exercise every single time I finish a book and am deciding what to write next! Fear stops us from trying so many things!

   Comment by Kristi Holl — March 30, 2011 @ 9:21 am

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