Guest Post: "Why I Write, or What Inspires My Writing" by Caitlin Forbes
- Kaecey McCormick
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Happy Tuesday, creatives!
One of my favorite things about hosting guest writers on the blog is discovering the many ways the experiences we live become the stories we tell.
Every writer arrives at the page carrying their own history, their own questions, their own way of making sense of the world—and I love getting to share those perspectives here.
Today, I’m excited to welcome author Caitlin Forbes, whose forthcoming novel, What Comes Next, explores the complicated, tender, and often unspoken realities of finding your footing in your twenties.
In this guest post, Caitlin reflects on what inspires her writing: the books that shaped her, the moments that pushed her toward writing, and the reasons she needed to tell a story she couldn’t find on the shelf.
Her reflection is honest, deeply human, and full of insight for anyone who turns to reading and writing as a way to understand their own life.
Settle in and enjoy—and as always, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.
~Kaecey
Why I Write, or, What Inspires My Writing
by Caitlin Forbes
When I was fourteen, my grandmother, “Aunty,” died. She was the person who most helped me understand unconditional love—love that has no prerequisites—and I didn’t know what to do without her. But I read books about teenagers who lost loved ones, and I felt a little less alone.
When I was eighteen, I went through my first heart break, and I read books about badass women of all ages who got dumped and came back stronger and more sure of themselves—and I decided I could be that kind of woman.
When I was twenty-four and out of grad school and in a low-paying entry-level job, I read books about other women in their early twenties, navigating a world that suddenly seemed too big.
What I'm saying, of course, is that books have always helped me make sense of my world. They’ve helped me feel part of a bigger experience, to find beauty and hope in what might have seemed unbearable. Maybe most importantly, they’ve helped me feel like the pain and uncertainty is actually the point—not something to be ashamed of but something that gets you to the good stuff.
But when I was twenty-eight, I couldn't find the book I needed. The one about your late twenties. About the expectation that you should have gotten "there" by now, but realizing that you don't even know what “there” means. The feeling that you are doing it all wrong but it's already somehow too late to start over.
I couldn't find that book (which in hindsight means that, perhaps, it was not a commercially savvy idea 😊), but it was crazy to me. Because I knew that I wasn't the only one who needed it. I'd talk to my friends and I'd always hear some version of the same story: changing friendships, changing jobs, changing everything and yet, this sense of being frozen. Being stuck.
And so, eventually, I decided to try to write the book myself. The one I’d once needed, and I suspected others might need too—regardless of their age.
I write to make sense of my world. I wrote a novel because I wanted to tell a story that someone else might need to hear. That might give even just one other person what my favorite novels have always given me: that sense of being seen.
And so I wrote about Alex.
She isn’t me; she isn’t one of my friends; she’s her own person with her own story. And while her health challenges are a critical part of that story, they aren’t what define her, and I think that’s important too. Alex is a full person—a 28-year-old woman dealing with unique struggles and a unique history, and sometimes making questionable choices.
And because she’s a full person, her story is one that I hope readers can relate to. A story that touches on doubts and anxieties that I think are better talked about in the light.
Writing for myself is easy. Writing for publication is very hard. But when I had doubts about whether I could do this (which was often), I would remember that imaginary reader. A combination of so many women who I love.
And I wrote the book for her.
♡Caitlin
About Caitlin Forbes
Caitlin Forbes is a Maine-based author who writes stories that explore the messiness of relationships—from sisterhood to romance to the tricky relationship we have with ourselves. When not writing, you can find her chasing after her toddler (or her dog) and exploring small-town New England life.
Here's how to connect with Caitlin online:
About the Book
An empowering and heartfelt novel about the complexities of family, the power of sisterhood, and the bravery it takes to choose happiness when all seems lost.
"My life is perfectly fine."
Alex has pretended this for years―despite an emotionally absent father, a best friend drifting away, and a floundering dog-training business. At least Alex has her sister, Meredith, a driven polar opposite. But both their lives are upended when their estranged mother dies of a genetic condition that the sisters have a fifty-fifty chance of inheriting. For Alex, a world without her mother is uncomfortable. But a world without Meredith is unthinkable.
Alex suggests a pact to which Meredith tentatively agrees: In three months they’ll get tested. Until then they go after everything they’ve ever wanted. Alex is finally stepping out of her comfort zone and opening herself up to new relationships. Or maybe reconnecting with an old one. Nathan, a boy who once broke her heart, needs a trainer for his mixed-breed rescue. Alex can’t resist.
As sparks rekindle, and time passes much too quickly, Alex discovers more about herself, her sister, and her mother than she ever imagined. And that everything in life―especially happiness―comes with a risk worth taking.
Ready to dive in? You can purchase a copy of What Comes Next on:
You can also add What Comes Next to your Goodreads reading list!
I'd love to hear your thoughts on what Caitlin has to say about why we write! Let me know by sending me a message or an email.
Happy Reading & Happy Writing!
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