Sometimes it’s hard to know what to write about, what your “brand” is, or what topics and themes can hold your interest over time. What should you be writing?
To figure that out, it helps to pay attention to the ideas and issues you’re drawn to. I’ve suggested before that keeping “five fat files,” whether physical or virtual, can be one way to collect information focused on things you care about, think about, research, and read about. The five fat files are a purposeful, intentional way to deepen your understanding over time and start to “own” that content, increasing your bank of knowledge and expertise.
Another idea comes from author and literary agent Betsy Lerner, author of The Forest for the Trees. She says, Look at your scraps.
Look at the lines you write in journals, the poems you pen in the margins of a manuscript, maybe the witty tweet or thoughtful Facebook update that reflects your personality and preferences.
You may discover your best themes and subject matter—the things “you should be grappling with as a writer”—hidden in plain sight.
“If you are struggling with what you should be writing, look at your scraps. Encoded there are the themes and subjects that you should be grappling with as a writer.”
— Betsy Lerner
Source: Lerner, Betsy. The Forest for the Trees: An Editor’s Advice to Writers. New York: Riverhead, 2000. Print. (p. 24)
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Thanks for sharing this, Ann.
I hope you find clues–treasures–in your scraps, Bethany!
What an interesting thought! “Look at the lines you write in journals, the poems you pen in the margins of a manuscript, maybe the witty tweet or thoughtful Facebook update that reflects your personality and preferences.” – this is brilliant and should be so blatantly obvious right? I am really happy I came across this post and I have added “On Being a Writer” to my tbr list. I recently read a writing guide that I have been recommending to my writer friends called “Creative Visualization for Writers.” The author Nina Amir delivers on so many levels with this book, and has come up with a truly “holistic” approach to writing. Without sounding condescending, but rather quite consultative, she almost provides a handbook on how to tap into one’s creativity and writing innovation. I actually have made more progress on my own novella in the month since I read her work than I had made in the previous 18 months. I applaud you, Ms. Amir! Anybody that is feeling stuck should give this a try. It’s hard not to gain momentum after taking this one in. Hope you will check it out. Thanks again
Thanks for the tip, Claudia! Have to check out the book!