Jul 30 2009
What’s Your Story?
Have you ever heard the saying that everyone has at least one book inside of them? The more involved I get with the writing and publishing industries, the more amazed I am at the sheer numbers of people who want to write — not to mention the sheer numbers of people who do. But perhaps the most amazing thing is how different our stories can be.
As I work on The Advent, one thing I’m continually asking myself is what story I really want to tell this time around. What aspects of life do I want to explore? What characters do I want to delve? What themes are beating in my heart that want to get out on paper? I’m feeling my way through some of those things right now, and at the same time I’m editing stories, both fiction and non, for people who have entirely different stories to tell.
In the last year I’ve edited books about scientists who travel back in time to explore the Antediluvian world; tales of adventure, slavery, old mines, and sword fights; the Mayflower Pilgrims and their relevance to our lives today; adoption disruption; dangerous addictions. I’ve reviewed books about forest worlds, pirates, genetic manipulation, and death. Currently I’m reading books about literary criticism, true love, and the life of a missionary. Every manuscript is unique. Every one tells a different story.
What’s your story? If you could tell any story right now (and tell it well — if you’re like me, you may be avoiding telling certain stories right now because you want to develop your skills enough to do them justice), what would it be?
Some of the major themes of the story I’m currently writing are that a father’s actions affect his children either for good or ill and that evil actions can never be done away with until their foundations are destroyed. I have another story of a young man who dearly loves his country, but not his country’s evil — a theme close to my heart.
I’m also interested in ancetry, and I love making up characters whose ancestry affects their lives and future plans in different ways.
The novel I’m working on right now is a subject that’s very dear to me…whether or not “following your heart” is all it’s cracked up to be. I think it’s important that we take a second look at the popular saying. Another WIP is based around the truth, “Every man needs a woman who believes in him.” And yet another is “Courage doesn’t mean not being afraid.”
Someday, I would love to novelize the story of my grandmother and how she and my grandfather (and my aunts…and my dad
) came over from Cuba when Castro took over in the 50’s. It’s such an amazing story.
Some day I would like to write about my family. Where we came from, how our childhoods passed, and work out how we got to where we are. However, it isn’t an issue of skill that is holding me back. It is more of a matter of inaccuracy and being in the middle of it still. I only know one sixth of the story, my story. Yes it touches all the other lives in our family, my parents and siblings, but only I can see my perception of our joint story. Thus the story I would record on paper would only be my own, missing the vital parts that the others remember and experienced. Also, I only remember the peices that were vital to me, forgetting those that were embarrassing or not as important to me at the time. So, I have finally concluded that I probably never write about my family. Or if I do, it will be after everyone is gone and not there to comment (hardly likely since I am the oldest). So, I believe that story will remain untold, at least for now.
[...] another topic, you all have been leaving some great comments on the What’s Your Story post. Thanks
. Keep ‘em [...]