Write About Everything

 

Anytime I come across somebody complaining about me or another writer writing about some thing or another that is based on our life, I can only chuckle and say, “That’s what writers do!”

 

Writers write about everything. Every single experience they go through in life is material for our writing. We may be inspired to document our experiences on Facebook, write a novel based on true events, or even get an article idea out of an experience.

 

In fact, I got four ideas for a novel based on one experience alone. (One of those ideas was turned into an actual novel. Check out Shadow of Samhain if you’re interested!)

 

Just as all writers are inspired to write one thing or another based on what they go through in life, so, too, should you give yourself permission to turn real-life events into stories or articles, poems or essays or even a script! Everything a writer experiences in life is material we can use in our writing, so go ahead and write all about whatever you are inspired to write about.

 

If you went through a traumatic experience in your childhood and feel compelled to write about it, then write about it. You don’t HAVE to get it published. You can, if you want to. But if it makes you too nervous, then turn it into a novel.

 

If you get an idea for something to write just from something you overheard, then write it.

 

If you are feeling angry or saddened because someone treated you wrong and you want to turn that into a story where you, the protagonist, get your revenge, go for it.

 

Write anything and everything. Your life experiences are a great place to start if you need ideas for something to write. Not only this, but when you keep a record of something you are going through in life, you can use that for a future character should they end up going through it too. This way, your experiences make it more realistic.

 

And don’t allow anyone to put you down for it or tell you that you can’t write about that. Sure you can! It’s YOUR life and YOUR experience! It’s something that you, personally, went through. You have every right to write about it.

 

On the other hand, tread this road carefully. There have been so many lawsuits about tell-all books or memoirs ratting people out or “defamation of character” based on something that was written about them. Even if it is true.

 

This is why writers who write about real-life experiences must do things like changing names or fictionalizing real-life events. That’s why I turned my experience into a novel. If it’s fiction, you won’t be sued (just make sure you change identifying features, names and genders for characters based on a real person!)

 

This applies to work you wish to get published. But if you don’t wish to pursue publication, then go ahead and write everything down on a private format such as a journal.

 

The bottom line is, writers write about everything – even the things that they are going through. Real-life experiences might inspire ideas for them to write something, or they might transform people they know into characters.

 

Just write anything you want to write. It’s your life, after all, and that makes you the best person to write about it.