Tag Archives: Misery

Use Real Life Experiences in Your Writing

Growing up I can remember many English teachers telling us to write using a memory or experience we went through. If you’ve ever attended a writing class you’ve probably heard the phrase, “write what you know,” more than once from an English professer. Hearing that advice, I immediately processed my life, and realized it was not exciting enough to write about. Many years past before I realized that I could use different experiences in my life. . Certain moments could be drawn back on to write about a similar experience perhap with a character. Using real life experience should only be done if it applies to the story. If there is a certain memory or feeling that you can convey in your story, and it fits, that’s when you should use your memories and feelings.

Many authors have done just this. Remember Stephen King, when he got into a car accident, he used that experience and wrote Misery.

Anne Rice is another example. In one of her books a vampire becomes human again and the detail of him eating food for the very first time is amazing. Where do you think these authors got such detail and feeling? They tapped into their own memories and wrote about it.

Using life events makes your story or novel more realistic to the reader. Think about strong moments or memories you may have, think about how you felt. How would your character feel if something similar happened to them? Think aboutt how you felt, what you were thinking etc. If you do use real life experiences in your novel, make sure the story benefits from it. If you can’t fit it in to your plot smoothly, don’t.

By using real life experiences in your writing you’ll not only connect with your readers, you’ll also make your characters more realistic.

To find out more check out real life experience. Or check out creative writing tips.

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The Age Limit of Success

Is there an age limit on success?  Is there an age where you know you have either failed or made it?  Some part of society seems to think so and hence we get many stereotypical depictions of seniors and retired homeowners living in loneliness and misery.  We must arise above this negative imagery!

Aging is nothing but a “fact.”  Some people view it as an obstacle; some people view it with contempt and despair.  However, it is a fact that people age and nothing more.  It is not indicative of a person’s value or of their ability to accomplish something great.  When we age, we also grow in experience, wisdom and intelligence.  After the burden of youth, we all tend to settle down and have more time and more effort to devote to our important pursuits.

Rather than view aging as the end, or the finish line, you should view it as just another obstacle to overcome.  In fact, some people do not even view it in a negative light.  They view it as a pleasure, a time to relax, and a peaceful time.  If you are retired then you no longer have the obligation of raising children or working on a daily basis. 

Unfortunately, people become so accustomed to the old lifestyle, whether or not they enjoy it, that they find themselves at a loss as to what they should do.  This may be how you feel sometimes.  Resist such negative thinking and instead ponder on the possibilities that wait for you.

You could use all this free time to achieve some of the dreams you once had.  Whether these dreams are small or grand doesn’t really matter.  What matters is that you commit yourself to fulfilling them.  You don’t have to spend the rest of your life training for these dreams.  You have already been taught a lifetime of experience.  Use what you know to pursue your greatest ambitions.

If there are obstacles that stand in your way then accept them as obstacles, but do not let them destroy your mission.  Find ways to sidestep these obstacles.  Find ways around them and keep moving ever forward.  You will never regret having taken a chance and failed but will always regret having let opportunity pass you by.  This lesson becomes clearer as we mature in life.

Use your time and resources to achieve something monumental.  There is no age limit of success.  If you are motivated to take action then you can accomplish anything!