‘The universe is made of stories, not of atoms.’ - Muriel Rukeyser
Stories, whether fact or fiction, are part of everyday life.They are everywhere and in everything. Why, then, is it sometimes difficult to find fresh inspiration for a great story, article, or book?
Well, some writers feel it’s because we’re all looking to write a story that is totally new, fresh, and original. After all, publishers and readers don’t want the same old stories…or do they?
When you look a little deeper, most stories have the same foundations and narrative flow. It’s just the details, locations, and characters that are different. Take Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey, for example. Many established and successful authors use the same story formula for every book they write and simply change the finer details. They do this because it’s successful and their readers want more of the same.
So, whether you write fiction, non-fiction, poetry, or scripts, find your winning story formula. Study what works for other writers. Read Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces for inspiration. When you find a winning story formula that works for you, stay with it, and see where it takes you.