Do You Know What You're Writing?

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Canva,com Yellow typewriter on a yellow background.

How do you go about coming up with a new story? As an avid reader, this has always fascinated me. When I became a writer, I found the answer for myself. It has nothing to do with magic, although my beagles do like to butt in and be a muse from time to time.  

I’ve never talked to my writer friends about how they come up with a story. Where your stories come from can be very personal. We take little snips of this and snaps of that and put everything in a cauldron and see what we can eat of it.  

What I didn’t realize is many writers don’t know what they're writing. What I’m talking about here is the distillation of everything in the witch’s pot until it is an essence of the story. I’m talking about niche. Where does your book belong? 

I learn so much in the classes and workshops I take part in. Not only my work, but how each writer takes a divergent path from all others. I had no idea people didn’t know what they were writing.  

Example that I am making up because I do not have permission to share other people’s process.  

Let’s say you’re writing a book about the American Revolution and your own ancestor’s story of the conflict. Maybe your family member was a member of the military, or a cook, or a camp follower? Where does it belong on the shelf? 

  • There are some questions you can ask: 

  • Is it at all made up and fictitious?

  • Is it based on actual writings and records that can be confirmed?

  • Is it about a soldier and his love but not a happy ending?

  • Is it about two young people separated by years of war who die tragically?

  • Is there a happy ending? 

(I could come up with many stories after thinking about this for a while.) 

Photo by Suzy Hazelwood: https://www.pexels.com/photo/old-woman-sitting-on-chair-and-reading-a-book-to-a-child-3087878/

Black and white photo of a small girl standing next to an older woman in 19th century clothing. The woman is reading the girl a book.

This can go on for a while for some writers. They aren’t sure where it belongs. The big group is historical. We can all agree on that. It’s about the past. Now, I know some smart ass is going to say it could be an alternate timeline. Let’s remain focused on what is in front of us. Historical wins. 

Is it real or fiction? Again, easy. Either you made it up or you didn’t. Yes, there are some books that have a fictionalized version of the past. The writer makes up some scenes to show the historical records and what things might have looked like. Generally, you either did or didn’t make it up.  

I decided it’s fictitious. This is because I’m a lazy researcher and hate going through old records. I’ve got a writer friend who loves research and I’ve learned so much from her. Mainly, that I like to make stuff up.  

Now we’re standing in a bookstore. Where are you going to put your book? Is it a love story? A tragic story? A cautionary tale? A mystery? Literary? 

This was the point where my eyes blinked wide. The writers didn’t know. Any of them.  

I sat for a couple of hours as I listened and learned. Not everyone does it the same way. You can put a dozen writers in a room, and we’ll all have a different way of marching to the end of our story. What I didn’t know was many writers have no idea where the book is going to go when it’s ready for the real world.  

Photo by Melike Benli: https://www.pexels.com/photo/bookshelves-inside-the-library-10252333/

White bookshelves filled with assorted books.

Only two of us in the class knew our genre and niche before we started writing. Right now, I’m editing an urban fantasy with a strong female lead. I started out intending to write that kind of story.  

I wanted a young female heroine who lives in a place with supernatural elements who must save herself or maybe someone she loves from being destroyed. This isn’t the goal, motivation, and conflict. This is barebones.  

Do you have to know before you write your story? No. You don’t. I think you need to know before you’re making a second draft. If you don’t know who your readers are, how can you market your work? That’s the entire point. Selling your story. Who is going to read your stuff? 

However you get there, decide what your story is. Yes, we are all unique and our stories are as well. That doesn’t mean you can’t find the center of your story. If agents are accepting work for romance and fantasy, you shouldn’t send them a biography of Winston Churchill. You’ve got to know before you throw your work at the wall and see if it will stick.  

I hope this is helpful. Please send a question or your own experiences. Happy Writing!