Monday 8 March 2010

Writing a Book From Your Own Experience

There are aspiring authors all over the globe who enjoy the art of putting pen to paper, but some shy away from furthering their pursuits because the idea of writing a book is an intimidating process. One of the first obvious questions an author should ask is, "What would I write about?"

Using a personal life experience, big or small, is one of the best methods an author can use when choosing the topic for a book. Each of our lives are metaphorically books, and different eras of our lives can be figuratively thought of as chapters within a book.

Human beings, by nature, are hard-wired for storytelling. We gain from learning about other peoples' experiences and receive the same amount of satisfaction when we, in turn, share our own experiences with those in our midst. Without storytelling, it would be impossible to effectively relate to one another.

While we all have common threads that make us alike - the desire to love and be loved, for instance - each person living on this earth has their own custom life story. In a world where millions upon millions of people inhabit the planet, that is a fascinating concept. In essence, we are all enough alike that we are able to relate to one another, yet different enough that we can learn from each other.

With this concept in mind, a book based on personal experience might not seem so far-fetched. Writing based on first-hand encounters not only come with ease, they can be therapeutic, particularly during a dramatic life event.

While I did not write a book on the topic, I did write a short story that was published in a newspaper after my grandmother died in 2003. She had suffered from cancer for more than a decade, and the story I wrote recounted what it was like visiting her in the hospital before her passing. After years of fighting, it was time for her to end her brave battle.

Tears dripped down my face as I shared with readers what it was like walking down that cold, sterile hospital hallway and encountering the warmth of my loving grandma one last time. The words flowed from my mind and onto the keyboard. It was a wonderful way to pay homage to a woman who made such a difference in my life.

Writing a book can be an effective method of sharing your story with readers. Search your heart, do some journaling and uncover what life experience you would like to convey through the art of storytelling.

If you're interested in writing a book, Profitable Storytelling is a fantastic site!

And for an incredible source of motivation, you really need to look at Blind Mentor. You'll be really glad you did!

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