“There’s no greater
agony than bearing
an untold story
inside you.” 
Maya Angelou

Everyone has a story to tell. Everyone! Sadly, many believe that their story is insignificant and not worthy of being shared. People often think that their existence has had no real impact on the world or on the lives of those around them. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Over the past few years, I have encouraged several individuals to write and publish their stories. Some have completed the task. Some are currently working on their manuscript. Others are still thinking about it, perhaps not yet convinced that their story is worth telling, or believing they don’t have the writing skills to do it.

One person currently working on his manuscript is Pat Maguire, owner of Java Beach Café in San Francisco. Pat has had enough unique life experiences to fill the pages of several books, but he’s starting with one. A few months back, I had a lengthy conversation with Pat at his café at LaPlaya & Judah Streets. (There’s a second location at 45th & Sloat.) He share with me just a few of the myriad experiences he has endured in his lifetime. I encouraged him to share his story with others.

Today, I would like to share nine quotes from writers. My hope is that their wisdom will give you the confidence and courage to tell your story — a story only you can tell.

• “Here’s the thing: The book that will most change your life is the book you write.” ~ Seth Godin

• “Write about what should not be forgotten.” ~ Isabel Allende

• “Start telling the stories that only you can tell, because there will always be better writers than you and there’ll always be smarter writers than you. There will always be people who are much better at doing this or doing that — but you are the only you.” ~ Neil Gaiman

• “I think new writers are too worried that it has all been said before. Sure it has, but not by you.” ~ Asha Dornfest

• “Don’t forget — no one else sees the world the way you do, so no one else can tell the stories that you have to tell.” ~ Charles de Lint

• “Find a subject you care about and which you in your heart should care about. It is this genuine caring, not your games with language, which will be the most compelling and seductive element in your style.” ~ Stephen King

• “You own everything that happened to you. Tell your stories. If people wanted you to write warmly about them, they should have behaved better.” ~ Anne Lamott

• “Enthusiasm is common. Endurance is rare.” ~ Angela Duckworth

• “Don’t be seduced into thinking that that which does not make a profit is without value.” ~ Arthur Miller

I’ll end with this today: First drafts don’t have to be perfect. They just have to be written. And it’s okay to begin writing even if you don’t have a clear vision of what you’re going to write. Just write. You cannot edit a blank page!