In honor of my birthday today, and almost a WHOLE YEAR of content (how has it been a year already?!) I wanted to share a special blog about my writing inspiration. Things are a lot different now than they were years ago, and I find it helpful to always be self-reflecting. Hence the now and then!

I talk a lot about writing , and I do my very best to inspire you all to try to be the best and truest version of you. And I do truly believe in you all! But sometimes it’s helpful along our journey to have a peek behind other people’s priorities and growth.

Sometimes it’s helpful along our journey to have a peek behind other people’s priorities and growth.

After all, if you know my story, you know that I was scared to write for years after one rather unpleasant, but ultimately small experience.

What I’ve compiled for you today are my top 5 sources of writing inspiration now, and then, when I was a young writer. As cathartic and reflective as this is for me, I hope it is helpful not only to see that our priorities change as we grow, but also to acknowledge that our journey and our “why” is unique to each of us.

Now

Like many writers, I’m not always “inspired” in the way of having too many ideas. There are days where it feels like I will never finish my novel, but that is the time where I have to remind myself of my top writing inspiration to keep me moving forward. These inspirations or reasons are my “why” as a writer in the present.

5. I’m Good at It

One of the reasons I write is because I’m good at it. This might sound like a cop out, or a brag moment, but truly it’s not meant to be either. Words are a very natural thing for me, and I express myself much better in writing (I think) than I do when I’m speaking.

Words are a very natural thing for me, and I express myself much better in writing

I’ve been known to do some word wizardry for people on occasion, and it’s honestly fun for me because it’s something I know that even if I’m terrible at everything else, I’m good at words. So, it provides a boost for me when I know for sure I can accomplish things with words.

4. I Love It

Related probably to the fact that I have a talent for writing is that I love it. I love everything about writing. I like how it makes me feel, how it can make others feel, and the real impact it can have on the world.

Words have the power to create emotion, inspire action, and express the deepest sentiments of our souls that no other medium quite has the same ability to do. It’s flexible, it’s powerful, and I love how different everyone can use writing.

3. Pass on My Passion

Because I love words and writing so much, and I am confident in my abilities, I write to share my passion with others who love writing - and those who don’t! This is one reason I like teaching college English, too.

So, I write to pass my passion on in hopes of giving people a good experience with writing.

Many times people don’t like writing because of prior experiences, which I totally get. I’ve heard some pretty bad stories about English classes (and teachers) that are very cringe-worthy. But the fact of the matter is that we need writing, and it will always be around us.

So, I write to pass my passion on in hopes of giving people a good experience with writing. I’ve found that the best teachers and the most interesting people I’ve met are sharing their passions with the world, so I wanted to do my best to join those coveted ranks.

2. To Help Others

The one thing that’s been a constant for me as I’ve grown up and tried to figure out what career path I want to be on is this: I want to help people. I’ve always wanted to help others.

So it makes a lot of sense that I would use my passion and talent for writing to do what I’ve always wanted to do with helping others. While I’m still figuring out the logistics, I have a pretty good idea of where I would like to be helping others in the long run. I am a teacher by training, after all, and I love teaching about writing! But I also want to help others with confidence, which is something I’ve struggled with most of my life.

1. Because It’s My Calling

The number one reason I am inspired to write is because it is what I have been called to do. You know when you hear people talking about music or art as if something inside (or occasionally, above) is telling them this is what they are meant to be doing? Or that something just “feels right” but they can’t always tell you the exact why?

Writing is what I do, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

This is how I feel about writing, and how it feels in my life. I can’t imagine doing something else, aside from working in education (in a related capacity). Writing is what I do, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Words and writing were important to me at every level! Here we see a collection from 1st grade all the way to high school.

Then

It’s interesting what we think when we’re young and how that changes and adapts as we grow. My reasons and inspirations for writing have changed through the years (for the better, I think) and it’s fun to think about myself as a young writer. As you read through these “then” writing inspirations, think about how your own inspiration has changed as a writer - or even as a teacher or person in general! You might find you surprise yourself.

5. I Had No Concept of Failure

You hear about those kids and teenagers who only hear positive comments for their lives and then get to college and have their first taste of criticism, right? That was me.

Part of what inspired me to keep going was because I had an incredibly supportive family and teachers who lifted me up.

Part of what inspired me to keep going was because I had an incredibly supportive family and teachers who lifted me up. I excelled at writing in school, and I wrote like a fanatic outside of school - and people loved reading my writing. I always got compliments, and rarely (if at all) got constructive criticism of things to fix, so I literally had no concept that I would ever fail as a writer.

Creating stories since childhood! With hand drawn illustrations.

Who doesn’t want to keep doing the thing people love that they consistently get compliments on?

While I don’t have any doubts about my imperfection now, I have since received some constructive feedback on my writing. Failure is an event, not a state of being, but it took a long time to figure that out.

4. I Was Bursting with Creativity & Ideas

When I was younger I always had multiple ideas rolling around in my head. I was a pro at making up stories and characters off the cuff. I think part of this is because I used to play this game with my mom and grandma when I was very young where they would make up one part of a story and I would do the next.

So where were all those ideas supposed to go if they were just rolling around? Onto the paper, of course! I wrote short stories, novels, and even fanfiction (Fruits Basket fanfiction, to be exact). However I could messily get all those thoughts out with a pen and a trusty lined wide-ruled notebook was the way I worked this out.

I wish I could say I’m bursting with creativity now, but alas, I am much more focused these days. I do have many ideas, but I have been working to weave them all into my current novel so that it can be the best work I’ve done to date.

3. I Wanted Others to Read My Words

Some kids want to be famous athletes or musicians. I didn’t want to be famous, per se, but I did want a lot of people to read my words. I didn’t want the fame in terms of paparazzi, even when I was a kid, but I always thought it would be cool to be a household name.

I thought that out of all the ideas I had, surely one of them could inspire people like Harry Potter.

As Harry Potter was coming out, I found myself striving to be a next generation JK Rowling. I thought that out of all the ideas I had, surely one of them could inspire people like Harry Potter.

It’s funny because people do read my words now! So, young me would be excited about that. I think to a certain extent all writers want to be heard - it’s just that now I have a more direct approach to get my passion to others. I don’t want to be the next JK Rowling because I want to be the first and only me. And what I want for that me is to help others and to pass on my passion to others.

2. My Friends Loved It

This probably goes along with never getting criticism, but my friends loved to read my stories. In fact, during the fanfiction phase, we all traded! We even wrote some of it together - a true bond of friendship is sharing your writing, I think.

They were always interested in what I had to say, so this kept me going back for more! I think many kids, especially teenagers, feel this way, and it still kind of makes me giggle, really. Everyone wants to “fit in” with someone, whether that’s a way to become popular, or to create a bond with similar people. I found those people and boy did we write!

For the record, I only have one friend I share my writing with these days, at least for now while my novel is a work in progress. The older I get the more I realize how much I thrived on acceptance from other people. While I do like being accepted (who doesn’t?), it’s not a main priority because I have realized that not everyone will like me and my writing - and that’s okay!

1. I Loved It & It Was Fun

Some things never change, right? I have always loved writing, both the act and the final product. Writing gave me a sense of strength, and it was a way to express myself when it felt like no one else was listening (or got tired of listening because I talked A LOT).

Writing doesn’t judge you, sass you, or just generally hurt you like people can, so it was a release of angst and emotion, as well as a creative outlet for the swarm of ideas that was constantly hanging around my mind. There was nothing quite like a new pen and a fresh notebook to get the gears turning.

This is still in my list of top writing inspirations, and I think it’s pretty clear that it resonates throughout the other “why” factors, too. Some people love sports or shoes. I love writing (and shoes? We’re allowed to love more than one thing).

All this to say that my inspiration has changed as I have changed.

All this to say that my inspiration has changed as I have changed. I don’t have the same friends who love my writing - I have new ones. I don’t have the same expectation of being a household name as long as I can help those who really need it. My priorities now are about teaching and growing confidence, which I don’t know that I ever considered when I was younger.

I can’t wait to see how I grow as more years pass! One thing is certain, though. I will be here, writing, teaching, and building the confidence of everyone I meet because that’s what I’m called to do.

What are your writing inspirations? Have they changed from when you were younger? I’d love to hear about them! Drop a comment below or email me at rachel@capturingyourconfidence.com - let’s chat!

My Writing Inspiration: Now and Then

Now