Whether fiction or non-fiction, putting your thoughts in writing and into “book form” is a hefty endeavor. Perhaps you’re one of those people who have thought of doing it because others are always saying, “You should be a writer.” Maybe you’ve asked yourself if you should write a book on more than one occasion. If so, the only person who can truly answer that question is you.
However, there are several good reasons to write a book, and pondering them might help you determine whether you’re ready to give it a go. Keep in mind that this is not an extensive list. In fact, there are no standardized reasons to write a book. Every author’s mission and purpose and decision-making process is unique. So, in the end, you can take what follows here to heart, and it might resonate with you, or not. Either is fine because the ultimate choice is yours and yours alone.
Reasons that might compel you to write a book
The following list includes numerous reasons that you might decide to share your thoughts in writing with the world (or, at least, part of the world):
- When you were in high school or college, you might have enjoyed grammar, composition and literature classes. If the writing process has always felt natural to you and you enjoy it, you might want to write a book as a logical means for engaging your passion.
- Perhaps you’ve gone through certain experiences or learned some lessons in life and writing a book would be a therapeutic way for you to process it all.
- Another reason to write a book is that you might have knowledge that you wish to impart to others – something to teach or information to provide.
- Maybe you want to entertain people, but stand-up comedy is not your thing. You’d rather remain “behind the curtain” so to speak. Writing stories is a great way to do this.
- You might be looking for a way to use your writing skills to generate income. It’s possible to make money if you write a book, even if it’s not a best-seller.
Some people decide to write a book, and then they keep it to themselves or share it only with family and friends. That’s okay, too. Others want to go all in and submit their writings to a publishing company. In fact, you might decide to keep some of your writing to yourself while sharing a specific book (or several) with the world.
Ask yourself these questions when trying to decide if you should write a book
To help you determine whether you should write a book, ask yourself the following:
- Why do I feel compelled to write a book?
- What do I hope to gain from it?
- What do I hope to offer those who might read my book?
- How will I feel if I don’t write a book?
- On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being greatest level of desire, how much do I want to do this?
Your answers to these questions may vary over a period of time. The ultimate decision rests with you. And, it’s really as simple as this: If you want to write a book, go for it! You can decide whether to share it with others later, but first, just put the thoughts that are swirling around in your mind in writing and see where it leads.
