My Writing Journey: My Obsession with Stories.
As writers, our duty is to create experiences that evoke emotive responses. Experiences that opens up the right conversations from our readers. Writers are not just storytellers, we craft, build, design and deliver important information to the right people.
The common adage, “A picture is worth a thousand words” coined by Henrik Ibsen, held refuse in my thought for a long time. Though the literal meaning was clear, I chose to give it a new face.
“Man holds in himself a thousand stories” is my coined phrase — meaning the same, but repelling the subject and shining the spotlight on the individuals. I believe every one of us has a million stories to tell. A grand adventure, past, present or future bound, just waiting to be told.
Note: Man is inclusive to all gender and lack thereof. In this same word, I group plants and animals, etc…
When did my obsession begin?
As a young boy, my grandparents would sit us; my cousins and myself, down and tell us stories of their past. These stories often include a lot of troublemaking, mysticality and intrigue. An excitement that somehow felt lost to me in my youth. Then, I believe that only adults had great stories to tell, so I listened. On the bus, I would peer into other’s conversations. At the grocery stores or listen attentively to my teachers groan about their lives. All of this to hear the life stories of others. I wasn’t nosy, I was entertained, and while I wasn’t invited, I always felt as if I belonged there.
I would imagine these stories in my mind, no dragons or fairytales, just an average joe’s life. These often felt more personal and real to me. I only learnt that kids too must have great stories to tell, when I read kindergartener books. Though these didn’t capture me as the real-world stories had, they still felt personal. This is why I believe that children are the best storytellers. Beyond that, I concluded that even inanimate objects had stories to tell — that life itself, was one long shot storybook, with smaller subplots anointing it.
How my obsession impacted my writing?
My obsession with stories changed how I read books, and watch movies. It affected how I engage with the media. The information I took were personal. It helped me see beyond the dimensions and saw people for what we really were: stories waiting to be told.
If I didn’t know someone’s story, I would attach my own adventure to them. Suddenly, a man walking down the street selling condiments was now a father trying to make enough cash to feed his children, or maybe he was saving up to buy clothes for a new job he was offered. He could be selling because it’s the only way to feed his addictions. No story was bad, no idea was good, because humans are neither. My obsession with stories thought me that there was no such thing as sin or an irredeemable people because we are all flawed, imperfect, immoral slabs of flesh, roaming this earthy ball in hopes to exist, for better or worst.
In conclusion, I implore you to become obsessed with stories as I have. Take the time to listen to others’ journeys, to hear what they have been through. You don’t have to be a psychologist trying to fix people’s lives to hear their stories — your job isn’t to fix anyone. I suggest you hear other’s stories, and in return, you’ll learn a lot about yourself.
Also, I hope this doesn’t come off as artsy-fartsy or dramatic. Other’s experiences are something I try to convey entirely and accurately in every work I do, it is very important to me. I just thought I would share it.
