YOUR VOICE IS IMPORTANT,
AND YOUR STORY MATTERS.
(Chris Baty)
There was a time I'd go into bookstores and libraries all excited, picturing my books on the shelves. But after awhile, when I'd go into those same places, along with browsing online, what I felt was more akin to failure, to hopelessness. Was there even room for my stories anymore? How would anyone find and read my words?
But see, that's the thing - my stories and your stories and your mailman's and your neighbor's grandfather - all have an audience out there, somewhere. All of our stories have a home on someone's shelves, in someone's heart. Maybe our audience is made up of three people. Or three thousand. Or three million. It doesn't really matter, not in the grand scheme of things, not at the intersection where passion and imagination and purpose meet. What matters is that we continue to tell our stories and to trust, to believe, they will be heard.
And remember, stories take many forms - novels and memoirs, short stories and poems and blog posts, photographs and sculptures and art journals, fancy meals and elaborate gardens and flash mobs.
So, instead of being discouraged by the number of stories out there, let's celebrate that the world is full of amazing stories! And let's make sure we add our own to the mix. Our audience is out there - let's not disappoint them.
It does feel overwhelming sometimes when you see how many stories and books are published. Great advice this week. :)
ReplyDeleteIt really helped me to change my perspective. I'm starting to feel less overwhelmed and more focused on creativity and imagination and story, etc.
DeleteI like that sentiment. Our stories are for someone, and that's what matters.
ReplyDeleteWhat I like, too, is that we just never know who exactly our stories, our words, are going to touch, and when and how….
DeleteI second Alex. Thanks for this great advice!
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome, Dana. :)
DeleteThis is such a great post. I keep putting my stories out there and hope they find some love.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure they already do - and will continue to! - find some love. It's hard because as writers we don't hear back from every fan, and we just have to believe that they're out there! :)
DeleteI was in a bookstore on Saturday, and got a little sad that my book would probably never appear on any of those shelves. It lasted about thirty seconds and then I went right back to browsing.
ReplyDeleteGreat sentiment this week! (as always!)
You never know - your book might very well share shelf space someday in that very bookstore. It could also rest quite comfortably on virtual bookshelves all over the Internet and on Kindles everywhere. Stories will always find a way. :)
DeleteOh wow, this is so pertinent. I was walking around a bookshop last week thinking this very same thing. Why weren't you there beside me, making the counter-argument? I will remember this post next time I'm browsing with that hopeless look on my face, thank you :-)
ReplyDeleteI would have enjoyed browsing in a bookshop with you, making this argument, although I have a feeling I'd have been too busy buying books to be very convincing. :)
DeleteI love this motivation! Every one needs to share their story with someone. If my story never makes it as a novel, I think I'll have to translate it into a flash mob. ;)
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of novel turned flash mob. Go for it! :)
DeleteWise words. Hugely motivational, and just what I needed to hear right now.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad it helped, Lynda!
DeleteI really like this, and you are so right...the size of the audience does not matter at all, it's the fact that we tell our stories that matters. Very inspirational. Thank you :)
ReplyDeleteI think that when we tell our stories, our audience will rise up and greet us, will have already been waiting and listening for us. :)
DeleteNice. I used to get discourage by book stores too. For a time I couldn't even enter them. I'm excited with the development Kobo is offering--where you can purchase eBooks in bookstores, but it's still difficult to get placed. Here's to finding your audience, no matter where they're hiding!
ReplyDeleteWith so many ways to tell and deliver stories now, our potential audiences have grown and expanded in so many directions. It's exciting!
DeleteWow Madeline that is a great post and I needed that today! I wanted to stop by and wish you luck for the A-to-Z Challenge. I am looking forward to reading your posts.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Doreen! I'm glad these words helped you out. :)
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