Start Writing Your Way to a Better Life

 

You Never Thought Writing Fiction Could Do This For You

Once your excuses are gone, you will simply have to settle for being awesome! ~Lorii Myers

Are you ready to be awesome? Well then, you’ll have to get rid of these excuses:

• I don’t want to write
• I can’t write
• I don’t have time to write
• I hate reading why would I want to write
• I’ve never read fiction so how can I write it
• I can’t find a pencil or paper
• I can’t spell worth a flip
• I can barely speak much less write
• Everyone will think I’m crazy
• I have no imagination

And the list goes on and on…

Okay, at this point, you’re a little interested but more curious as to how this will benefit you, right? Let’s get one thing out of the way before we begin. All first-time fiction writers are one peg below dummies. Until you’ve actually written a work of fiction, expect to be clueless. But in this case clueless is priceless because you don’t have any expectations or deadlines to meet. And there is no editor in the wings wearing a literary police uniform. So be proud of your ‘one step below dummies’ status and just get on with the writing.

So what can writing fiction do for you? That’s the question that got you here so let's jump in.

Ninety-nine percent of the failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses. ~George Washington Carver

Writing fiction puts you in control

Awesome concept, right? Doesn’t everyone wish to be in control of themselves and the situations that surround them? Fiction writing in its simplest form is merely world-building.

Just think for a moment what it would feel like to be a creator, omnipotent, and god-like in your ability to bring into existence something from nothing. WOW! I’m excited for you already. One peg below a dummy and you’ve already reached Supreme status. And things only get better from here.

1st step — Understand how fiction is written

Start with one word, then another, and another. Words make sentences. Sentences make paragraphs. Paragraphs fill pages. Pages fill novels.

You’ve got this! Why can I say that with confidence? Because you were already mastering a language of words by the time you were two years old. By now, you’ve got thousands of words stored away just waiting for you to use them.

Fiction is written in a sequence of scenes just like a movie progresses. All you need to do is:

• Dream up some characters
• Create a world for them
• Give them all kinds of things to deal with
• Oh, and one more thing is super important. Give each of your characters motivation. What do they want more than anything else and what are they willing to do or sacrifice to get it.

If the very idea of writing scares you, start small and build up. Here are a few word count targets.

• Flash fiction — 500 words
• Short Story — 2500 words
• Longer short story — 5000–7500 words
• Novella — 20,000–35,000 words
• Novel — 50,000 words and up

How to write fiction that benefits you

If you have a problem with yourself

Create a character that is your avatar in your novel. Are you scared, jealous, greedy, too soft-hearted, in love, or in some kind of danger?

Whatever situation or internal conflict you’re experiencing, create a character that is dealing with the same issues in the world you make for him. Then create a couple of side characters for him to interact with and who either support or hinder your character.

Give your character scenes where he must deal with the real-life issues you face. Then, here is where the fun comes in. Because this is fiction and you’re the creator, you can let your character act and react in ways that in real life you would never think of doing. This character can be everything you think you’re not. He can say and think in ways you’d like to do at times but don’t dare. In other words, write this character from the deepest part of your gut — your true self! This is a selfie like none you’ve ever seen…

Writing fiction in this way is fun, challenging, and more importantly, helps us see and understand ourselves. It relieves stress because we’re able to release that pressure by letting our character work through the problems for us without restraints that keep our true thoughts and feeling locked down inside us.

Often, once the story is written, solutions and choices surface that we never before thought about. Right before our eyes are pathways through the turmoil of our lives that, without your fictional character’s story, would have stayed buried forever.

More ways to benefit from writing fiction

Are you bored, lonely, isolated, or limited by health issues?

With the option of writing yourself into an adventurous thriller, why are you allowing any of those things to dictate your enjoyment of life? Write yourself into a life you wish you were living. On-world, off-world, or underground, you choose the setting.

Who would you love to share the experience with? Create those characters and take them along with you. Write yourself into the most hopeless and dangerous situations and then you and your companions work together to find a way to survive. And remember, you can always do a good deed and save the rest of humanity. An epic adventure awaits. Start writing NOW!

Are you or your family experiencing economic hardship?

When money is short or nonexistent, normal recreational activities come to a dead stop. No new games, movies, eating out, day trips, or vacations.

But don’t despair. Instead, get your tribe together and write a collaborative adventure. Let each one be a character in the story. Brainstorm your plot and setting. Decide on your main conflict and resolution. Then decide who’s going to be the good guys and villains. Work together to create the best family saga of all time. Who knows, someday it may be a bestseller!
Are you hurting from a broken relationship?

Now’s the time to write the romance of your dreams. As a romance writer myself, I can tell you that this will take you on a rollercoaster ride that will drag you out of the misery pit and put you back in the game of life.

In conclusion

There are not many problems in life that writing your own work of fiction can’t improve. Heart and mind attitude adjustments come while you’re writing. New insights and solutions surface like magic. And the pure enjoyment, discovery, and sense of accomplishment are priceless.

Don’t make excuses, make something incredible happen in your life right now. ~Greg Hickman