Guest post by Mark David Gerson
There are lots of good ideas out there in the world -- ideas for books and screenplays, ideas for songs, articles and poems. Your friends will suggest them. Your spouse or partner will suggest them. Your logical mind will suggest them.
You'll see something on the street, read something in the newspaper or hear about something and you'll think, "Wow! Wouldn't that make a great story?" Maybe it would. Maybe it wouldn't. Maybe it's yours to write. Maybe it's not.
There's often a difference between a good idea and the right idea, between an idea that is anyone's for the taking and one that is uniquely yours, one that's right for you, right now.
Before you launch into a frenzy of research and writing, ask yourself: Is this what I'm called to write? Is this the call of my Muse, the story only I can tell? Or is this anyone's? Is this another good idea or is this the right idea for me?
Anyone can take a good idea and give it shape and substance. Some can do it better than you, some not as well.
Nobody can take the idea that sings to your soul and perform the kind of alchemy on it that you can. Only you can transform that idea into the one-of-a-kind gem it longs to be. That is why it, through your Muse, called to you...chose you.
Accept that you were chosen. Perform your magic. Let the right idea be the idea you write.
Right now.
Mark David Gerson focuses all his work on inspiring you to unleash the power of your creative potential -- whatever your writing genre or experience. A teacher, speaker, mentor and coach, Mark David is author of the award-winning visionary fantasy, The MoonQuest, and of a critically acclaimed book of tools, tips and inspiration for writers, The Voice of the Muse: Answering the Call to Write, from which this article is adapted. Listen to five of Mark David's "13 Rules for Writing" -- from his 2-CD set The Voice of the Muse Companion: Guided Meditations for Writers -- at http://calltowrite.com - Get more free writing guidance from Mark David at http://thevoiceofyourmuse.com
(c) Copyright - Mark David Gerson. All Rights Reserved.
Wonderful advice and so true! You have to write about what's close to your heart - even if it's not the trendy theme of the day. Sometimes, this is difficult to do, when stories of vampires and werewolves seem to be the only topics of any interest these days. However, if you don't feel passionate about the thing you write about, even the most exciting idea will fall flat. Thanks for a great post. Christa
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