Writing

Are Writers Like You And Me Sitting On A Goldmine Of Stories?

My life is too boring to write about.

Tim Denning wrote an article recently about how some of us are just sitting there, on top of our stories.

Letting them go to waste.

He says that if we would share them, they could change our lives.

Well, not me.

I live a boring, simple life.

I don’t have many friends. Not many hobbies. And I don’t travel much.

Two kids take up a good chunk of my time.

And then there’s work.

So, there’s no writer with a ton of wild experiences here.

I did share a lot of stories about my journey to sobriety.

It was therapeutic.

And hopefully helpful to others.

But that well is dry now.

I’ve written it all.

Everything is out there.

So, now what?

Does this mean I have nothing left to write about?

Absolutely not.

You can find inspiration everywhere.

It’s often in the most unexpected places.

TV shows you binge-watch. Movies. Songs that get stuck in your head.

YouTube? TikTok?

Believe it or not.

Even those can bring about great ideas.

And you know what?

Even if you do have a boring life like me, you can actually write about how dull and colorless your life is.

I think it will surprise you how many people can relate to that.

Write about the way your kiddo lights up when you read their favorite story.

Or about the frustration of a never-ending to-do list.

The quiet joy of a perfect cup of coffee maybe?

These are all simple, but worthy moments to write about.

Even if no one’s interested in reading them.

It can be fun and therapeutic to write about.

It makes you appreciate the little things in life.

Sometimes I hate that I can’t write about bungee jumping in New Zealand.

Or backpacking through Europe.

But I can write about the fear of letting go.

Or the thrill of a new adventure.

Even if it’s just trying a new recipe.

What I like most about writing is that it’s a conversation.

You share your experiences. And you hope that someone out there connects.

There’s a whole world full of other people out there living “normal” lives, looking for “normal” stories.

We all wrestle with the same big questions about life. Love. And purpose.

And most of time, the most relatable stories are the ones that feel most familiar.

Maybe you can’t write about scaling Mount Everest.

But you can write about the fear of failure.

And think about the times you’ve laughed so hard your stomach hurt.

Or the last time you cried.

Think about the arguments you’ve had.

That’s where valuable stories are hidden.

What makes them valuable is that they’re real.

And they’re yours.

So they’re unique.

In their own way, they have the power to inspire.

You shouldn’t underestimate the power of your “normal” life.

Your life is full of stories.

And who knows, maybe it’s the story you think no one cares about that will change someone’s life.

Maybe that’s the one that makes them feel a little less alone. Or a little more understood.

So, I guess Tim Denning was right after all?

P.S. See how a story of Tim Denning inspired me to write my own version?