Do Weird Things Happen To Writers Just Because We Write?

Literally everything can be a story. Even “ghettoblaster guy” at the gym.

How do I decide what to write about?

This question has come up several times over the years. Once from my mother, who was interested in starting a blog, and once from a woman who moved to a foreign country (my specialty!) and wanted to blog about navigating life there.

My answer to both of them and everyone else?

Write EVERYTHING, even if you have no place to put it yet!!!

Literally, jot it down! Get a journal book or start a Google Doc. Even if you have no destination for your writing yet, for the love of Reese’s peanut butter cups, write it down.

The woman I mentioned above had been living in Jamaica for just a few months at the time. She and I kept in regular contact, and it was super fun for me to listen to her find her way on the island since I had already been there and done it.

When she asked me how I decided what to write about, I told her, “Remember last week when you told me about the biggest cockroach you’ve ever seen in your life inside your apartment? THAT would have been a whole story for me!”

In my ten-year travel blogging journey, one of the most-read and highest commented posts of all time was about my encounter with a 40-leg in my apartment in Jamaica. There were 91 comments on that post, from as far away as Serbia…..and it was just about a bug. (I dare you to Google ‘40-leg Jamaica’ 😆)

So yah, if you’re a travel writer, write about bugs if you want to! It’s your journey, and you’ll be surprised at what people want to read about.

In my experiences with travel writing, people who have not travelled to or moved to foreign countries are often very voyeuristic at the expense of others. They WANT to read about your hardships, your downfalls, your successes, and yes, even your encounters with disgusting creatures.

They want someone else to forge the path before them so they can learn from someone else’s mistakes and avoid the pitfalls. That’s the whole point of travel blogging. To teach others about destinations and experiences.

The thing about writing, in general, is that once you’re into the groove, you go out of your way to find unusual things to write about. Everything you do is in the name of getting a story, including trying to sneak photos while sitting inside a foreign police station (because you have to be there for other reasons anyway). I was once pulled over for not wearing a seat belt in Jamaica and nearly had my smartphone confiscated by police because they thought I was taking pictures.

Okay, so I WAS taking pictures, and I eventually wrote about it.

Sometimes I wonder, though. Do weird things happen to me on purpose because I’m a writer? Or do I notice weird things a lot more than the average person? Do weird things happen to everyone, but since they aren’t writers, millions of ridiculous moments pass them by, unnoticed?

Take ghettoblaster guy, for instance.

I used to work out at a community gym, and one day I showed up for my workout to find an older gentleman on an exercise bike with a full-size ghettoblaster plugged into the wall beside him, and headphones plugged into the unit. He was using it as anyone else would use an iPod or a smartphone for their personal music. The unit was so clunky it looked like a car battery.

I just can’t make this stuff up!

I immediately posted about ghettoblaster guy on Facebook, which sparked a hilarious reaction. The conversation went on and on until one person finally posted, “Pics or it didn’t happen.”

Challenge accepted.

I had to figure out a way to snap a pic of this contraption without getting busted. While pretending to stretch on a floor mat, I zoomed in as far as I could across the room and got the photos. Mission accomplished. I snapped two (very crappy) pictures shown below as if I were a journalist being paid to cover this story.

This is the best I could do with undercover photos

The funniest part about ghettoblaster guy is that he now has an identity simply because I decided to write about him. He became an unlikely topic of conversation, all in the name of writing.

Then there was “weed in the glove compartment” day during a jaunt to Toronto, Ontario. I don’t think it’s normal to find a giant bag of weed in the glove compartment of a rental car!

I feel like these things are totally out of the ordinary, and they must be happening to me alone, simply because I write.

Regardless, if you’re just starting out with writing but think you don’t have much to write about, think again! In this day and age of everyone trying to sell the same damn thing online, it’s so refreshing to just read about funny, enlightening, ridiculous, or good old lightweight life!

The best tip I can offer is to treat your writing like a diary and write as if no one is reading. While it may be true in the beginning, you’ll be surprised at who is entertained by the things you have to share.

SPILL IT. What is the WEIRDEST thing you’ve ever encountered that eventually became a story?

Drop your comments below because YES, we all want to know!