By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Writers have a plethora of writing projects from which to choose. Life is full of words and ideas that refuse to let us go—overheard conversations, history, local and worldwide events, movies, and other publications. Even when we dream, we are filling our imagination with ways to form our words into sentences, paragraphs, pages, and books. We writers express our innermost thoughts through the vehicle of fiction, nonfiction, and everything in between. 

Writing projects originate from embracing life and interpreting the experience.

Focusing on one project can be daunting. I’m a storyteller, but I also write blog posts, articles, nonfiction books, and sometimes poetry. 

What follows are 5 ways to see how the process works for any type of writing, and I believe you’ll see why.

1. You’re being sent to a deserted island for a month. Food and water are available, but no cell phone service or Wi-Fi. You’re permitted to bring one piece of reading material (not the Bible). What will you pack knowing you will read “this” repeatedly? Within that reading is your passion for a writing project.
2. A dear friend has presented you with a $100 gift card from Barnes and Noble. What will you buy? There again shows your passion for a writing project.
3. It’s movie night with your spouse, and it’s your turn to select any movie. What is your pick? The genre may be a strong indicator of your passion for writing.
4. Choose your reading while at the beauty salon (or barber). Will it be the Wall Street Journal, Sports, Vogue, Better Homes and Garden, New York Times, Guideposts, a novel, nonfiction, biography, or poetry. Your selection could be the target audience for your next writing project.
5. Too many projects to choose from! So you write in every genre until your heart soars that you’ve found the right/write project.

Some of you are writers. Some of you are readers, and some of you are both. Others may be curious how I choose a writing project. What is your favorite type of reading? Does it match your writing genre?

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She is a storyteller. Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, Suspense Sister, and International Thriller Writers. She is co-director of The Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference and The Mountainside Marketing Conference with social media specialist Edie Melson. She teaches writing workshops around the country. DiAnn is active online and would love to connect with readers on any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.

Follow DiAnn on Twitter: @DiAnnMills