Everyone Has A Story

Very often, someone says to me, “I wish I could write, but I cannot. I’ve lived a boring and routine life. Nothing interesting or exciting has ever happened to me.” I don’t believe it. 

Did you meet your spouse in strange circumstances? Was your wedding day unusual? An entertaining story I read was entitled, You Have to Kiss a Lot of Frogs Before You Find Your Prince. The author was married (once for only six weeks), and divorced three times before she found her fourth and happily-ever-after love.

How about your occupation or career? There may be a story there. I’ve just finished Nora Robert’s Blue Smoke with a heroine who’s a highly trained arson specialist. Her work is up close and personal. She’s often the first person to enter burning buildings. Currently I’m reading Dream of Orchids, by Phyllis A. Whitney for the third time. It’s about a person who was an expert in raising hybrid orchids from seeds. Another character in the same book recovers ancient ships wrecked off the Florida coast. There are several good books about beekeepers. The intricacy of breeding and raising honey bees makes an interesting story.

You may have an ancestor with an intriguing past. I’ve never forgotten The Bootlegger’s Daughter. It was written by a lady who discovered her great-grandmother led an exciting and prosperous life during Prohibition. A friend learned that the Texas outlaw, Belle Starr, has a place in her family tree. She’s gathering family lore and legend preparing a story about Belle. Have you survived a life-threatening illness or tragic loss? I have a story about the death of my 22-year old grandson and the lives he touched. You may have a similar story. Sometimes through our own grief, we may help others.

If you possess a vivid imagination, you might excel in the realm of fantasy. I’ve read with delight every book written by Anne McCaffrey about the dragons of Pern and the special humans who ride and care for them. Fantasy is in big demand. Remember Avatar?

You do have a story! You just need to discover its roots and make the decision to tell it. In the next blog entry, I’ll tell you how.