Write Things: On the Stories You Love

Hello writers,

Unsure what kind of stories you’re here to write?

Want an inexpensive, fun way to develop your writing technique?

If your answer is “yes,” then I’ve got a good one for you.

Mindset Shift

As writers, I believe we all have stories to tell—and those stories have something to offer the world.

It might be personal—you’re processing, reflecting, or discovering something about yourself through the writing.

Your readers might also find something valuable in your words. They may gain a new perspective, see themselves in your story and feel less alone, or simply enjoy falling into a story that carries them away.

But how do we know what stories we’re here to tell?

Sometimes we feel a pressing urge or call to write something specific. But what about when we don’t? When we’re facing uncertainty?

As with all uncertainty, you can ask yourself: “What would I like to write about today?” and wait for a response.

Or, look to your bookshelf or the shows you’ve recently streamed.
What kinds of stories are you drawn to? What captivates you?

If you love reading, listening, or watching a certain kind of story, chances are you’d love writing them too.

Want to get better at writing those types of stories?
Write them.
And consume more of them.

As our bodies are shaped by what we eat, our writing is shaped by what we read.

Want to write better dialogue? Read great dialogue.
Envious of poets? Get your nose into poetry.

You get the picture.

More so than we eat, we are what we focus on.

For your next story, try writing something you’d love to read.

This is one way we not only write the stories we’re meant to tell, but also enjoy the process. That’s a step toward becoming a more authentic and consistent writer.

👉 If you want the full playbook, check out my next FREE webinar::
I’ll Make You A Writer Webinar
🗓️ September 4th, 6:30–8:00pm CDT
Everyone who registers receives access to the replay and the Start Writing Things Guide
🔗 https://www.ihelpyouwritethings.com/make-you-a-writer

Your Next Four Minutes
Set a timer for four minutes and write whatever comes to mind.
No editing. No expectations. Just listen and write.

Prompt: “Withheld”
Recall a time you kept something back—a feeling, a thought, or a truth—and explore what that silence meant for you. Or, step into fiction and imagine a character holding something in, letting the weight of what they don’t say shape the scene.

An Easy Technique

👉 Tip: Try adding a pause or silence in your dialogue. Often what isn’t said — the hesitation, the withheld line — reveals more than words ever could.

From the Write Things Community:

Catherine S.

Decorum gone Marjel vented as the tall, blonde woman in front of her stood resolutely as if she was accustomed to such vitriol. Standing in the anxious line for so long, Marjel had simply lost it.
At least that was what she would tell her lover later that night as they laid together for comfort. It’s such a bloody awful world some days, they told each other. Thank goodness we have each other.
Marjel turned on her left side as was her wont. Her eyes blinked in the dark and her brain churned over all the words she had withheld.

Jill R.
She moved the mug again.
I turn around this way and that, scouring the countertops for where it went. An eye peers around the corner. I know she’s there, I can’t see her though. Lurking in my shadow, always. Keeping everything just out of reach.
I find the cup and turn back to the kettle to fill it with hot water. I open the tea bag and place it in the cup, now beside me.
Plop.
I look in the cup. Dirty water swirls around, sucking in my tea bag like a hungry mouth.
“Why do you do this?” I shriek.
Tired of the games. Always these games.
I toss the mug in the steely sink. Careless of its clattering screech as it cracks.
“Just like me.” I whisper to myself.
I open the cupboard door and take out another mug. I stare at its chipped edge trying to work out how to keep hold of it, the kettle, and the tea bag at once.
If I don’t hold it all close, she’ll take it.
A soft cackle wafts into the room.

Denis F.
The beast howled and lunged, chained to the wall.
Dr. Richard Rose, PhD, laughed hysterically as he held the ketamine sedated sewer rat just in front of the beast’s nose.
The beast howled with rage.
A cacophony of sharp alien barks echoed in the chamber, a converted lab with flickering fluorescents buried deep in the abandoned gold mine.
Dr. Rose proudly observed his creation. The result of years of genetic manipulation and gene splicing, and patience.
Soon, he would release the beasts. All of them. But not yet. He needed to instill rage and fear, and loyalty.
He withheld the meal for a moment longer and then threw the rat up high, following its arc and the spiral of its long tail.
The beast attacked, upwards this time, crushing the anesthetized prey in its massive fanged jaws.

There’s no “right” way to do it. As long as you’re giving yourself permission to write whatever comes to mind, you’re in the right space.

Did you know the pieces shared on the Write Things Podcast are all born from quick-writes like these? They are!
🎙️ Listen to Episode 1 here: https://app.kajabi.com/admin/podcasts/2147994810

If you enjoy this newsletter, please share it with a friend. The more writers we get writing, the more wonderful stories we’ll have in the world.

Until next time, I wish you and your stories all the best,
Trevor Martens
Founder, I Help You Write Things

P.S. Editor Rachel Small and I are hosting a pair of writing groups this September! If weekly prompts, support, and feedback would help you get started, we’d love to have you join us.
👉 https://www.ihelpyouwritethings.com/writinggroups