‘Start telling the stories that only you can tell, because there’ll 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 often get caught up writing for other people: ‘What will they want to read?’, ‘What will be popular?’

My anxiety and need to please gets in the way of truly expressing what I think and feel. Now, I’m not talking about adhering to matters of style or format—these boundaries help give my work shape.

I’m talking about the psychological battle I face when I put my words and thoughts out there for everyone to see. The mind-twist that has me trying to mimic what I’ve read before; or over-analyse the response.

The truth is that God has uniquely gifted me with the specific collection of skills, insight, ideas and inspiration to sit and write the stories only I can tell.

The same goes for you: your experiences, your thoughts and emotions, the research you’ve done and the time you’ve spent studying the Word in prayer. God graciously chooses to use us—imperfect as we are—as voices to speak truth in the grand chorus of life.

Don’t waste the opportunity worrying about what other people want to read. Tell the stories only you can tell.