Every writer has their favourite quotes that spark inspiration and connect to their storytelling journey. I’m a big collector of quotes. I love the little kernels of truth and emotion that can be found in so few words. I’ve got a huge board of quotes related to all aspects of life on Pinterest. So, this week I thought I’d share six quotes that I totally vibe with as a storyteller.

This is so exciting! Every now and then, in the midst of writing a scene, your character seems to jump off the page, take the reins, and demand to be heard. Who knows what they’ll say or do at that point? The plot doesn’t always go as planned. What a treat it is when that moment is kept in the final draft of a book. Have you ever been shocked by what a character of your creation has revealed to you? It’s drama on the page!

In the end, everything is a story. When we communicate, we are telling a story – second-hand sharing. History is retold as a story. When your relatives, friends, or whoever in the future speaks of you, it’ll be a story, especially when spoken to those who don’t know you personally. Not to get super morbid but there’s this saying about how you never really die until your memory has disappeared from this earth. And what are those memories?? Stories. We are all storytellers. Every. Single. One of us.

Here’s where I feel for those who don’t make time for creativity in whatever form ignites them. Creativity keeps you young. Your inner child craves it. Those long spells I’ve had where I haven’t written, where I let work take over, sapped me. When I’m letting my creativity flourish, I can’t help but infuse it into other aspects of my life and the writing energy just flows.

Simple words can be powerful. I have been wrecked by the quietest cry of defeat in a book. Long and flowy prose can be beautiful but if I don’t sense truth, then I haven’t been caught by it. I crave evoking emotions in my writing. I love laughing aloud, crying, sighing, and feeling angry while I’m reading. That’s how I know the writer has hooked me. That’s the kind of storyteller I aspire to be.

This is my little PSA for all those of you reading this and not yet writing. Enjoy books, and be an avid reader, but if you’ve got a kernel of a story in you that you’re waiting to write at the right time… Don’t wait! Write it now. Don’t let the blank page scare you away. Fill it with all of your wonderful thoughts. There is brilliant satisfaction in crafting your own story. Remember we’re innately all storytellers. You just need to discover your writing style.

This goes for books that you’ve read and those that you’ve written. What worlds, real and fictional, have you dreamt of being in? Have you compared a scenario you’ve experienced to an event in a novel? If words bring emotion, I think it’s fair to say that the feeling of homesickness tells you how strongly you’ve connected with a story. There is something in that story you long to experience.

Those are the six quotes that I connect with year after year. I keep them on my Pinterest board and in my journal to remind me how special a storyteller’s journey is.

Here’s a challenge: look for a quote that speaks to your inner storyteller. Print it out and post it near your writing space. Or, on your mirror. That’s where I like to post things I want to see every morning. Refer back to it when you’re feeling uninspired, ineffective, or obsolete. We are all storytellers. Write your story.

Did any of these quotes resonate with you?

Do you have another quote you’d add to the list?

Share it below!

Talk soon!

Julia