I love writing. I love words. I started doodling in a little girl’s diary when I was six years old.

I read every night before bed all through elementary and junior high school. Biographies were my favorite.

But I never focused my writing. I wrote from my heart about my life. Writing a set story was harder. Because it required discipline.

As a journalism major, I had to learn to write within the rules or guidelines. I had to write factual and objective. Back in the ‘80s, journalist were taught to be objective. It was the pride of the profession.

The discipline combined with my natural bent toward writing gave me confidence. I once told a colleague I could write about a pile of dirt if required.

Yet when I started writing novels, I had to figure out what I wanted to write and how. I was reading a lot of WWII historicals so that was my first attempt at fiction.

As I read more and more of the budding CBA fiction titles, I felt drawn to romance. Maybe because I thought they would be easier to write? I don’t know but looking back, romance and love stories is really where my heart goes.

I’m not a romantic per say. My husband is not a romantic. But I just love a good love story. It inspires me to love more, love deeper, love well.

After writing three Heartsong Presents and a novella, I had to figure out where I was taking my career. I had a few less romantic stories in mind. Chick lit didn’t last long enough for me to make a splash but romantic suspense was a growing market in the mid 2000s.

But I didn’t want to write suspense. I liked reading it I just didn’t want to write it. So I had to sit down and figure out what kind of stories were me.

Same goes for you all. Whether you’re just starting out or close to publication, perhaps even published but looking for the next idea, you have to know who you are and write from your heart.

Novelist Maria Geraci said in a recent workshop I attended, “Write the novel only you can write.”

If we were all assigned the same story characters and plot, we’d all come away with a completely different story. There are no new ideas really, just new ways to tell them.

Here’s how you can find out what draws your heart to a story.

1. List your favorite movies. Don’t be shy, list 5 – 10 titles.
2. After you’ve listed your favorite movies, write down why they are your favorite. Why do you love the hero and the heroine? What theme or moral lesson is conveyed in the plot and characters?
3. What moves your heart about the movie? What made you sigh at the end and gush, “That was so good.”
4. Next, list your favorite books. List 5 – 10 titles.
5. You know the drill from here. List why they are your favorites. What did you love about the hero, the heroine? What theme or moral premise impacted you?
6. What movies or books inspired you to write when you finished watching or reading? Why?
7. What moves your heart. As soon as you see an advertisement of X book, or X movie, YOU know you want to see/read it. List those here.
8. Now, pair your heroes, heroines, themes, type of stories and see what you get. I always get Sandra Bullock kind of heroine with a Ryan Reynolds/Taylor Kitsch macho man with a tender heart kind of hero. My stories are always of hope, destiny and redemption. And some kind of supernatural encounter with Jesus.
9. What are your passions? What gets you going? I’m all about destiny. I want people to fulfill the call of God on their life. I hate when people are limited or hampered. So many of my stories are about achieving dreams and destinies.
10. What’s your best writing voice? I discovered my voice by writing chick lit. When I moved from first person back to third, I was able to take my “chick” voice with me. Over time, with the help of great editors, I was able to mature the voice. I merged a bit with a literary voice I’d come to love and well.. that’s where I am today. Next book, I’ll have more practice and tools to help my writing voice. So will you.

Take some time to figure out what you love. A good romantic comedy and I’m there! As long as it’s not too raunchy. A good drama with tension and snappy dialog, I’m there. A literary tale delving into the lives of the people and character, the culture, I’m there.

What gets you out of the house for a movie? What moves you to skip sleep to read a book? Find that in your inner core and you’ll find the kind of stories you were meant to tell.

For some writers, many kinds of stories fascinate them. But if you’re starting out or just building your brand, stay with the story tone and voice you love best. Don’t ask what you can write. Ask what you can NOT write. You have to write this kind of story? Yeah? Write that!

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Best-selling, award-winning author Rachel Hauck loves a great story. She excels in seeing the deeper layers of a story. With a love for teaching and mentoring, Rachel comes alongside writers to help them craft their novel. A worship leader, board member of ACFW and popular writing teacher, Rachel is the author of over 15 novels. She lives in Florida with her husband and her dog, Lola. Contact her at: Rachel@mybooktherapy.com.