Why Would You Want to Write a Book?

I have a lot on my blog about finding the time to write, writing right, writing tight, writing when you don't feel like it, and so on. But, until now, I have never written to those who are trying to decide if they'd even be interested in writing a book. 

So, non-writer folks, this post is for you.

You may not feel as if know the English language (or whatever language you speak) well enough. Written language may have been difficult for you from elementary to high school and beyond. You just can't see yourself writing when writing has always been a struggle for you.

I get it.

I have the same issue with math. I only use it when I have to, and even then, reluctantly. But math is needed in life as is writing.

If you think you might like writing, if you just want to try it out, consider starting small. Maybe your first desire is to record an experience you had as a child. Perhaps you want to keep a journal of positive things that happen to you every day. Maybe you have this ache inside to share some of your trials and solutions so that others who come after you will see that there is still hope.

Writing a book is a bit like writing your heart, in fact, the best fiction books come from experience. They are shaped and grown through tears, hopes, and dreams. 

Photo by Khadeeja Yasser on Unsplash

You don't have to be perfect or even near perfect at grammar to write a book. That's what editors are for, and great reader friends who can give you honest feedback. You don't have to be perfect at writing characters, settings, or even scenes if there is someone you trust to help you through the difficulties of learning. 

Sure, you never want to send a manuscript to a publisher that hasn't been polished or weeded. But neither do you want to wait until some imagined perfection lights on you to get it sent out. Those rejection letters can often spur you on to improve. 

You might want to write a book to heal. To help others to see who you are. Nonfiction books are some of my favorites; so are self-help books. There can never be too many of them in my opinion. We all have unique experiences to share that no one has experienced in exactly the same way. I say 'exactly' because you want readers to connect, but not everything you've experienced will be theirs, and vice versa. Still, there will be just enough of you in them to connect them to you and feel the hope that they need.

You might want to write a book to make lots of money. Honestly, I wouldn't suggest this. If your heart isn't in book writing, you shouldn't do it. Find something else. If your desire is to spend your time mountain climbing, baking cookies or cross-stitching something new for your living room wall, do that instead. There are plenty of us that are interested in writing a book, and plenty more who have succeeded.

Photo by Kamila Maciejewska on Unsplash

Do what you love, but if there is an aching desire to write a book, don't let excuses get in the way of starting. I've found that writing is the best therapy out there with the lowest expense. Sometimes, a pen and paper are all I need to get started. 

Get Away Today With Your Writing

I don't know about you, but I am usually not able to take a vacation on the spur of the moment. I usually have to save my money for a few months, maybe even years, to get where I want to get going.



Photo by: TooFarNorth, courtesy of Flickr

But a funny thing happens when I write. I am suddenly transported to another world, another country, another time, and I am able to get away and return with the same results.

I enjoy the setting.
I meet new people.
I visit new places.
I feel refreshed upon my return.

Photo by: Matthew Kenwrick, courtesy of Flickr

How about you?

If you're listening to your heart and writing what you feel inspired to write, then you are probably already getting away with your writing. But if you feel as if you must write to the market. Write what's selling. Write what will bring in the most money, you're probably not getting away like you should.

If this is you, I would recommend a personal evaluation.

Since this is a new year, consider where you want to be traveling in the near future.

Writing from the Heart

The last few days I have been occupied at the Simple Treasures Boutique in Farmington. Many people walked past my booth and I was able to share with them my books, but something else happened during this event.



Photo by: Katerha, courtesy of Flickr

I realized that in connecting with others my heart was renewed. I was able to share with others a little bit about my growing up years through my experience of writing the book, A River of Stones. I spoke about God as I shared my book, Conquering Your Goliaths: A Parable of the Five Stones, and I was able to let people know that through it all, I still made time to write what was fun to me via Scrambled.

And you know what? I discovered, yet again, that writing from the heart doesn't have to look a certain way. Writing from the heart takes guts, whether you're writing mystery or inspiration. Writing from the heart means that you, as a writer, tap into all of those elements that makes you human, that makes you real, and that you are willing to share more than the good stuff.

Photo by Skinned Mink, courtesy of Flickr

Because in real life:

People have goliaths that they must overcome.
Sometimes they must leave their old life for a better one. 
Often people are the way they are because of how they experienced childhood.

And it's okay. All of it. The good and the bad.

As long as you remember to write from your heart.

Kathryn

Great Writing...Hurts

You want to put your best work out there, but you want it to "sort of happen" to you "without much effort" and in the time that you have "available." Maybe you want to be a writer but you don't want to write "every day." You don't want to take classes on the subject, you don't want to attend conferences or spend hours editing your work.

You just want to write.

I know some folks like that, and they're great people. But they will probably never get published.

Photo by: Mscaprikell, courtesy of Flickr

And that's okay. They write for pleasure, for the "sheer enjoyment" or the plain fact that writings makes them "feel better."

But what if you want more. What if you're a writer through and through? What if you can hardly think about anything else but writing? And what if writing sometimes gives you a terrible crick in the neck?

Welcome to the publishing club, where the feat is joyous beyond measure, but continually keeps you hopping up to the next step.

Photo by Clairity, courtesy of Flickr

I LOVE WRITING! It's one of those things that keeps me going, keeps me happy, and most of the time, keeps me sane! But sometimes writing also hurts. I don't want to write that sad part that reminds me of the death of my grandmother; I want to avoid the pain that child is soon to experience because it reminds me so much of my own--that I'm still trying to work through!

But here's something I know. The best writing that I have ever penned on paper or typed from keys onto my computer screen has come from the depths. Great writing hurts. Great writing makes you cry. Great writing takes you out of yourself. It's scary. But great writing can also heal.

When you feel hurt or pain the next time you write, consider this.

What you write, if you write it from your heart, from your soul; if you allow your entire being to experience it, you will heal, but not only you, but that reader who is reading your book.

And I can't think about anything more rewarding than that.