Stories and Audiences

A few weeks back, I attended Windycon and specifically a writers' workshop ran by Rich Chwedyk. At the workshop, Rich said something he's said at previous events, namely "maybe this story has reached it's maximal audience already." I've had some time to think (a few long car drives will do that) and I Have Thoughts which I shall share with you.

Many writers got into writing long before they actually wrote anything. They "wrote" by telling themselves stories in their head to entertain themselves. That's what I did, and for that matter still do. Sometimes, on a long drive or even a quiet evening, I'll be daydreaming / telling myself a story in my head.

The trick is knowing when a story that entertains me will entertain anybody else. At least four times now, I've guessed correctly.