In Service

A story idea always comes to me because I’m ready to tell it. The story may be one in a series, or it may be something brand new, in a new genre or in a new form. Whatever the story, whatever the genre or the form, if it came to me, I asked for it. I may have asked for it consciously, sitting at my desk wondering what I should work on next; or I may have asked for it unconsciously, wandering through my days with an unsatisfied feeling in my heart, feeling empty and like I’m not headed anywhere. That’s asking for a story too.

By whatever means I asked for it, when the story comes, I know that it’s there to serve me. It’s there to help me evolve as a storyteller, to teach me something about myself or about life – or, yes, to make me some money. Whatever I need most. It didn’t show up to punish me or torment me or even challenge me. It’s only there to serve me.

However, once it shows up, a kind natural role-reversal occurs. I must now serve the story. I can’t require anything of it. I can’t decide where it should go or what it should be. If it wants to be a different genre or form than I’m used to writing, or I believe I should be writing, then so be it. The story is wiser than I am, knows more than I do. I must accept that I don’t really know what’s best for the story, but that I can tell it nonetheless.

And in the telling, I gradually admit that I don’t even know what’s best for me. I do know and care about the difference between feeling good and feeling bad, between feeling interested and uninterested – which is invaluable for good writing and good living – but I don’t know where I’m supposed to go or what I’m supposed to be doing. Something else seems to know that. I have not always liked that arrangement, but have slowly come to accept it, to accept my role in what is in service to my life. I tried inverting this order for many years and it just didn’t work. So here I am, full of questions and stories, ready to serve what will serve me.

If you like the ideas and perspectives expressed here, feel free to contact me about individual coaching and group workshops.

Everyone Has What It Takes: A Writer’s Guide to the End of Self-Doubt available for pre-order now!
You can find William at: williamkenower.com