I’ll use this space to reflect on why one would want to be an author. Let’s not forget, there are downsides. Writing can be demanding of your time and effort. It opens you up to being judged. There’s plenty of rejection, and you’re highly unlikely to make it big. So why be an author? What are the advantages?

Well, there are many, and I’d categorize them in two major groups: self-interested and selfless reasons.

On some level, every author will have self-interested reasons for writing. Perhaps you like the idea of people’s reaction when they find out you wrote a book (how impressive!). Perhaps it’s for the money (but with few exceptions, you may be disappointed). Perhaps it’s vanity; an attempt at immortality. One healthy self-interested motivation is that it can be cathartic. Finally, there’s also the fundamental enjoyment of it (sometimes). By writing a story, you get to go on the adventure too. As you write your book, you get to make discoveries, fall in love, observe conversations as they unfold, just as your readers eventually will.

But the optimist in me, despite recognizing that some of my motivations rest in the self-interested category, would like to think that the core of my inspiration and enthusiasm for being an author comes from what my writing does, or could, mean to others. The way I see it, authors, in part, write stories because they have stories they want to share with the world, and on some level believe their writing will make a difference. Maybe not a huge, world-altering difference, but a measurable one to a reader. With their books, authors can provide a vehicle to dream, hope, evaluate, and maybe even plan and act. Should an author achieve a loyal following, authors can use the trust they’ve built up with their readers and social media followers to speak out against injustices, disseminate important information, and even help mobilize toward causes. Some may see their writing as part of a larger struggle to define our reality (the world as it is), or to open minds to the possibilities of all that’s to come (the world as it could be).

Authors have the power to shape minds and sway hearts. They can be a guide, a teacher, a motivator. Readers have chosen to use their precious private time to come dream, imagine, and on some level believe with you. It’s a big responsibility, but the rewards, as we can see from these lists, are great.

As always, the plug:

Now available in the Kindle Store, The Untold Legend: http://tinyurl.com/hx48v56