If You Want Something Done Right, Write it Yourself
If you’ve ever…
Walked out of a movie early.
Read a book that put you to sleep.
Browsed a blog that offered words but no content.
You’ve just been hand-delivered a gift. No doubt unfulfilled stories are disappointing, but if you’re a creative, these annoyances could very well be the motivational shove needed to create what you crave into existence.
The Gift of a “Bad” Experience
A bad experience is a matter of opinion. When we’re disappointed by another’s work – left feeling unfulfilled or mislead in some way – consider it a precious, precious gift. Why? You’ve just been offered a puzzle that’s waiting to be solved. Instead of just reading books about writing, experiment with your new skills on this story. So much growth can occur when we take the time to identify what felt unsatisfactory.
Pinpoint what’s missing from your experience. Explore ideas that could have made it better. Ask the question, “How would I put my spin on it?” Then go off and make sure your next project delivers the goods.
If a server eats at a restaurant, for example, and her waiter is rude and unhelpful, she’ll most likely return to her serving job more motivated to provide her customers with a pleasant experience. She was fine at her job before, but the blessing of that experience was a direct reminder of what it feels like to be on the other end. Be the change, so to speak.
Fill the Gap
“I wish there were more female-driven stories.”
“There should really be more diversity.”
“I’d love to spend a day in the shoes of _____.”
Writers have the gift of creation – the power to take a blank page and fill it with what’s in our heart and soul. And as Spider-Man’s Ben Parker said, “With great power, comes great responsibility.” Part of that responsibility is to tell the stories we want to see. Why does it matter what you think? Collective consciousness tells us that if you’re having these thoughts, others are having them too. Pay attention, not only to the ideas you know you can write well, but the ones your soul aches for.
Be an Outsider
“But I don’t know anything about this character. How can I, a young Indian woman write about a Black man in his 60s? How could I possibly capture all of his life experiences, wisdom, hopes and fears?”
Every story should be given the justice it deserves, but that justice will never be done if you block yourself from writing unfamiliar things all together. There’s a difference between a lack of knowledge and a lack of interest. If you’re only lacking knowledge, don’t let that deter you from creating something that you’d love to see.
Research, interview, study. The beauty of being an outsider is that you’ll ask questions that insiders won’t. You’ll see things from another angle, appreciate details that are considered normal, and bring light to things that would otherwise stay in the dark. Do everything in your power to create truthful worlds but also embrace your unique viewpoint. When you surrender to that, you might become the best possible person to tell another’s story.
The Game-Changing Question
How do you think Morgan James Publishing came into existence? As big as this business has become, it started from something quite small: one man’s dissatisfaction with the publishing process.
Was the goal to become the go-to publishing house for entrepreneurial authors? Not really. Was the motivation to have six offices across the map? Nope. Was the catalyst to become one of Publisher’s Weekly “fastest growing publishers in the nation?” Not at all. The goal for this movement started with a bad experience that produced a longing for a better one. The result? Not only has Morgan James Publishing created a better experience its founder; it has gone on to provide a better experience for authors, publishing houses, and readers everywhere.
One man saying, “Hey, this is more difficult than it should be,” produced positive results for many because, as we’ve learned, if one person is thinking it, others are too. Most people would have complained and moved along, but David L. Hancock asked a game-changing question: How can I make this better? This one question holds the power to create change in the world.
What kind of change can you create today?
David L. Hancock, Founder
Morgan James Publishing