Sterling Terrell

smart ideas from books

  • Home
  • About
    • Work With Me
    • My CV
    • Series
  • Newsletter
  • Advertising
  • Tools
You are here: Home / Potpourri / Are These Stories Worth Telling?

Are These Stories Worth Telling?

Are These Stories Worth Telling?

[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)

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: PotpourriTagged With: #Blogging, #Writing

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Privacy Policy

Connect

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Free Weekly Newsletter:

Search

Recent Posts

  • This Sounds Like Home
  • Don’t Kill Your Darlings?
  • This Wisdom, Power, And Love
  • You Can Move To Save
  • Random Thoughts – 284
  • But I Am At Work Somehow
  • The Week In Review – 261
  • Turning Pro, By: Steven Pressfield and Shawn Coyne
  • COVID Vaccine
  • Leaving For College Feels Like This?
  • The Warren Buffett Investing Strategy
  • Coffee And Grumpy Day For You
  • When A Summer Camp Counselor Has The Day Off
  • How Texas Country Is Texas Tech
  • Messy Head Of Hair Back To
  • The Most Important Job in The World
  • Fine Day But Who Cares For
  • Fun Where One Finds It
  • 5 Things I Learned Reading: 300 Arguments, By: Sarah Manguso
  • Redeeming What Cannot Be
  • The Week In Review – 260
  • Random Thoughts – 283
  • Instabooks 351
  • Tom Hanks Typewriters
  • The SEO Trick That Everyone Forgets (No Really)

Top Posts & Pages

  • The Tricky Lily Pad Riddle (You Probably Can't Solve)
    The Tricky Lily Pad Riddle (You Probably Can't Solve)
  • Wonder Park Pi Song (Watch It Stick In Your Head)
    Wonder Park Pi Song (Watch It Stick In Your Head)
  • 31 Persuasion Tips That I Learned From Scott Adams
    31 Persuasion Tips That I Learned From Scott Adams
  • How To Make A Great Work
    How To Make A Great Work
  • My Notes On, In the Eye of The Storm, By: Max Lucado
    My Notes On, In the Eye of The Storm, By: Max Lucado
  • My Notes On, In My Father’s House, By: Corrie Ten Boom
    My Notes On, In My Father’s House, By: Corrie Ten Boom
  • On Grading Art
    On Grading Art
  • The Massive Power Of Visual Persuasion
    The Massive Power Of Visual Persuasion
  • Magic 8 Ball Answers Are Great For This
    Magic 8 Ball Answers Are Great For This
  • Wagon Train Morality
    Wagon Train Morality

Copyright © 2021 · Generate Pro On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in