One of the most common objections that I hear from people considering writing a book is that they don’t feel they have anything to say. They don’t think they have a story to tell or enough thought leadership on a topic they’re passionate about.
I know how this feels. In fact, before I started writing my blog, a friend of mine suggested that I start a blog. I told her it was an interesting idea but that I didn’t have anything meaningful or interesting to write about. She proceeded to list out several topics that I could start my blog about.
I was fortunate enough to have this incredible friend to give me the nudge and confidence I needed to get started so now I’m here to pay it forward. You do have a story to tell and you do have unique knowledge.
While I’ll provide you with some of my own insights in this blog, I encourage you to learn more about cultivating your story by purchasing the incredibly inspiring Spark the Stage: Mastering the Art of Professional Speaking and Authentic Storytelling book by the fabulous Aleya Harris. It is out TODAY!
Your own flare
One of the most common barriers to writing a book is that many people feel that any topic they would talk about has been talked about before. And guess what… that’s probably true.
But it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t still write that book because your book is filtered through the lens of YOU. It’s a synergy of all your stories, experiences, and knowledge. Your perspectives and insights make your thoughts and teaching unique and will help them to resonate with folks who have experienced similar journeys.
Of course, you want to give credit where credit is due, but within any given topic, you have your own unique blend of twists, insights, and opinions on a given topic.
We’re humble
Oftentimes, we assume that many of the challenges that we’ve overcome are normal. We assume that we aren’t special and that we did what was expected along our journey.
But what I’ve learned is that we’re typically too humble about this. I hear stories all the time of pivotal moments in people’s lives that I feel are incredibly inspiring, even if it wasn’t a typical hero moment. I’ve also found that people have responded to my stories in a similar way.
The key is that our mindset around these stories drives how we feel about these experiences and consequently how we relay them to others. When we can see the lessons in our experiences and how they’ve shaped us and empowered us to create an aligned and fulfilling future, we’ve unlocked the foundation to inspiring storytelling.
We are then able to tell our stories in a way that positively impacts others and creates a beautiful ripple effect of action and inspiration.
What makes us unique, makes us relatable
The stories and facets of our lives that make us unique also make us relatable. While someone may not have had the same exact journey that you’ve had, they may be on a similar journey.
Your story of how you’ve overcome the challenges along your path may be just what a reader needs to progress along or carve out their own paths. No two journeys are exactly the same, but they can still resonate with others.
For example, let’s say you’re a woman who became burnt out in your career as an engineer, found tactics and healing to recover from this, and started your own woodworking business. Sure there are people who have written about being burnt out and coming back from it, and sure no two journeys are exactly the same. However, your story as a female engineer who came back to start your own business in something you love to do is unique from the stories of other professions burning out and how they came back from that.
Not only do the details of your journey make it unique but so does the “so what”. By giving a “so what” to your story, you make your own personal stories a source of resonance and inspiration for larger audiences. Given the same experience, two people may have different “so what” perspectives. The “so what” is crucial because it helps to make your story unique while also helping it to resonate with and inspire larger audiences.
If you’re considering writing a book and are interested in digging deeper into what potential story and knowledge you have to share, I offer free roadmapping sessions. You can get started by booking a free 30 minute strategy session below!
Disclaimer: This blog should not be construed as providing, or intending to provide professional financial, legal, psychological, or other professional advice. It is simply meant to share my experiences with those who may find them relatable and helpful.