Folks often hesitate to write a book because they think their story doesn’t have enough trauma. They worry their story will be boring or meaningless without that dramatic hook.
But a gentle or peaceful book can really hit home with readers who experience plenty of trauma in daily life. What a breath of fresh air to have a story that helps them breathe, redirect, find their way to peace.
Not to say that a book about trauma doesn’t lead readers to peace. It can, and it should. But a gentle story can do the same. The key to an engaging book is not dramatic moments. It’s direction. Know where you’re taking your reader, and guide them along that path of discovery.
It’s a myth that readers only connect to pain or struggle. They can also connect to calm insight, to the peace they wish they could find. If your story is not rooted in trauma, does it offer the following?
- Change
- Growth
- Insight
- Perspective
- Recognition
- Discovery
If a calm story leads to new insights, recognition, emotional growth, wisdom, that’s a compelling book for your readers.
Maybe they’ve never experienced that kind of peace. That chance to pause, reflect, and grow.
Maybe they’d like to.
A lot of life-changing reflection comes from quiet places.
A quiet story can help your readers move from chaos to clarity, from disassociation to being fully present, from upset to peace.
What path does your gentle story point to for your readers?
- A series of small but steady changes?
- Guidance in how to slow down, reflect, reconsider, breathe?
- Help in choosing and tracking slow but meaningful perspective shifts?
- Renewed awareness of small but meaningful moments in everyday life?
- Following an emotion to a path of self-discovery?
- Insight and encouragement for how to embrace who they are?
Those are just a few ways a gentle story can guide readers along. As long as you have a direction, an understanding of your readers, a way for them to grow, and a helpful takeaway for them, you can have a compelling book without trauma.
Again, if your story comes from trauma, that’s fine too. Many stories do. Your story arc is often easier to identify because you’re taking the reader from trauma to restoration of peace.
But for those who want to write a gentle story, to help people, to share their experiences with readers, trauma isn’t necessary. Just a clear sense of direction for the reader’s journey and a way to engage and encourage them along the way.
If you’re hesitating to write because your book is not about trauma, I encourage you to take some time this week to think about how your peaceful journey would help your readers.
Make a list of things you’d like to share with them.
Describe a gentle scene that brings insights, wisdom, perspective, peace.
Take that first step to write those words that will help you share your story.
Janet Eriksson 