Have you heard the statistic that 80% of Americans want to write a book? 200 million people feel they have something to write. That's pretty amazing!!
And as you know, only a very small few will ever do it...
Then there's the other statistics that
1/3 of high school graduates never read another book for the rest of their lives.
42 percent of college graduates never read another book after college.
70 percent of the books published do not make a profit.
Sadly, just a small minority of people read anyway!
Writing's Even Really Hard at Times!
And, having written and published books both through publishers and self-publishing,I can tell you from experience that writing a book takes longer than you think, often feels like failing and can be excruciating at times....especially the rewrites...
Some people try to make their living as authors. Most who try can't do it. In response to that, bestselling author Seth Godin put it this way
Some other wrong reasons to write that don't get us too far...
To become a "someone." (famous even)
To prove we can!
To have author after our name. (Reminds me the cartoon where the coyote's business card, read Wile E. Coyote, Genius)
To sell products we don't believe in.
Or still believe that writing will offer a lifestyle of pipe smoking, tweed jackets and mint juleps in the gazebo. (Huh?!)
So, why should YOU write? Or even why MUST you write anyway?
There's still a BIG REASON YOU NEED TO GET WRITING!
One very right reason to write can actually be found in the Bible! And it comes from God Himself who invites, and at times, even commands people to write.
God tells the prophet Isaiah,
"Now go and write down these words. Write them in a book. They will stand until the end of time as a witness" (Isaiah 30:8, NLT)
More than once, God invites Isaiah to write. He's given him a message and it needs to get out there. God Himself sees writing as a great way to share messages... messages that last. And God challenges others to do just that including Jeremiah, Moses, John (Revelations, 1:11).
SO, what's one really good reason why you should write?
Here's why...
YOU HAVE HEARD, EXPERIENCED AND WITNESSED THINGS THE WORLD NEEDS TO BECOME A BETTER PLACE.
IF YOU DON'T WRITE, WE LOSE OUT ON YOUR ENDURING VOICE.
Only you have your vantage point in this life.
Those invited to write have learned something, experienced something or even heard from God Himself things that others need. To NOT write would be to withhold your gift and your voice to the world. Would you be OK with that?
And different from just speaking these revelations or sharing them with a few, writing becomes a permanent record, an enduring witness or message that can span languages, continents and generations.
"Who me? What do I REALLY have to offer???"
Yes, almost true every writer asks that!
But, aren't you glad that many other questioning writers didn't listen to that voice and instead wrote what they wrote? In their way. In their voice. In their method.
What makes you think you won't do the same?
Many authors who've mentored, inspired and impacted my life are no longer alive. Stephen Covey. CS. Lewis. Henri Nouwen. Dallas Willard. Elton Trueblood. Yet, when I read their writings, I can relate to them and still learn from them.
Personally, I was shocked when an author I respected encouraged me to write because the world needed what I had to offer it. Really?? Me??
And as you:
1. Discover your most important and authentic messages, stories and teachings
2. Write them because you don't want to keep your gift from the world
In
blogs
E-books
Books
Articles
Guest Blogs
You will become richer and richer in all the right ways.... as will the rest of us!
