I often find myself wondering what to write. It sounds silly. I should know. I'm a writer, after all. But how do you decide what to write about when there are so many things in the world that could be the focus of your writing?
I usually end up getting overwhelmed by the possibilities and then deciding I might not need to write at exactly that moment, so I stop and do something else.
There's a flaw to this tactic: I don't end up writing.
There are other times, however, when I find that I simply don't have anything to say on any of the potential topics. Usually it feels as if it's all been said before. In all likelihood, it has been said before. But don't let that stop you from saying it again. Whatever you come up with will be unique, not because it's not been said before, but because it hasn't been said by you or thought about by you. No one else can say something the way you'll say it.
But J. J., what if I'm drawing a blank? What if there REALLY is nothing to write about?
Well, if that's the case, then it's probably the end of the world. If you can't think of anything to write about while sitting at your desk, grab a notebook and a pen and go outside. Write about the squirrels. Write about the birds. If trees could think, write their thoughts. Find a bench and watch people walk by. What are they thinking about? Why did they choose to dress the way they're dressed?
As long as there is a world, there will be things to write about.
If all else fails, you can always write about writing, right? It seems to be working for me.
Really, though. What's on your mind? Are there any social issues or current events you're concerned about? What do you want to learn more about? Search the internet and find something that interests you and write about that. Or, figure out what you haven't written about and fill in the gaps. Have you done research for a novel that was much more comprehensive than it needed to be? Share that research or fun facts you've learned, like I did here.
The world is full of really cool things. Go learn about them. Then share your learning with the world and inspire someone else.
J. J. Hanna is a Professional Writing major at Taylor University. In her free time she enjoys practicing karate, drawing comics, making Youtube videos, and working on her novels. Have a writing question or want to be on the blog? Send your submissions and questions to her here.