[This is part of the series: 20 Writing Tips From John Erickson]
I agree with the sentiment here on average: Not all stories are worth telling.
But I think I would add that what is “worth” reading and writing can also be subjective.
For example, Erickson uses here a story of working in a bar. People behave at their worst in bars. Nothing substantive happened during his time there. And so nothing he found was worth writing about.
While many writers might agree, I also have little doubt that the right writer, with the right eye, coming along at the right time, could write an interesting memoir or fiction book based in and around a bar.
Not everyone would love it – but that’s true of everything else too.
Some stories are also worth writing for non-obvious reasons. I mean, I don’t care if this post is interesting to anyone or not.
I enjoyed writing it – and I know my kids and grandkids will enjoy reading it one day too.
It was worth writing because it was a part of my story – that I thought was worth penning for posterity.
16. Good writers know that every story isn’t worth writing.
-John Erickson, Story Craft (Amazon)