Do you want to write a book?

 

 

Ever since I was a child, I’ve wanted to write a book. I’m now writing my 7th one (Promises In The Dark, coming soon!).

Book writing is rather addictive, like chocolate, cute shoes, or Lost.

You can write a book, too. It’s time, girlfriend!

According to a survey, 81% of Americans think they have a book in them and that they should write it.

Why do they want to write a book? Why do you?

Best-selling author Seth Godin says that writing a book is slow, hard, and a horrendous return on investment:

“The return on equity and return on time for authors and for publishers is horrendous. If you’re doing it for the money, you’re going to be disappointed. On the other hand, a book gives you leverage to spread an idea and a brand far and wide. There’s a worldview that’s quite common that says that people who write books know what they are talking about and that a book confers some sort of authority.”

Hugh McLeod shares these thoughts on why people want to write books:

A successful book agent I know tells me that at leat half the people he meets who are writing their first book, are doing so not because they have anything particularly interesting to say, but because the idea of “the writer’s life” appeals to them.

Tweed jackets, smoking a pipe, sitting out in the gazebo and getting sloshed on Mint Julips, pensively typing away at an old black Remington. Bantering wittily at all the right parties. Or whatever.

While I don’t have any tweed jackets, don’t smoke a pipe, and don’t care for Mint Juleps (although they look appealing), and I use a laptop rather than a Remington typewriter, I agree “the writer’s life” is appealing to many people.

You know, the beautiful woman writing a Barnes and Noble Top 10 romance book in her notebook or on her Ipad at Starbucks. Or the manic man who hasn’t slept in 17 hours, going on nothing but coffee and a ham and cheese sandwich on Wonder bread, writing his New York Times, best-seller science fiction story. 

The reality is that I (and many writers!) don’t get to Starbucks that often and that it’s hard work. But emotionally rewarding work. There’s nothing like the feeling of holding your “baby,” your own book, in your hands!

Other reasons for wanting to write a book may be:

• You have a message burning in your heart that you want to share with the world;
• For significance. The desire goes deeper than journaling. You want to know that your life really mattered. You want to share your life story with your children, grandchildren,and friends, leaving the imprint of your life and a legacy. Everyone has a story, and probably hundreds of stories to tell;
• To express your frustrations at real people from real life by doing terrible things to your characters and making them suffer. You can break their hearts, harass them, injure them, or even kill them. (Hmm, sounds like a plan!) Maybe you’ve heard the humorous expression, “Careful or you’ll end up in my novel.” This is the dark side to writing;
• To tap into your creativity and to let your imagination go wild, creating exciting new places, new people, wonderful, adventurous things that have never happened except in your own mind;
• To share your expertise and teach;
• To write poetry or songs;
• To make people laugh;
• To make people cry;
• To compete with your spouse who writes books, too;
• To avoid having a real job and real responsibility;
• To share other people’s heart-touching,  inspirational stories like the Chicken Soup for the Soul series;
  
• You want your book made into great chic flic movies, like Nicholas Sparks’ books (The Notebook, Safe Haven, Message In a Bottle, A Walk to Remember);
• You think writing a book is cool and you want to brag to your family and friends about it, even if you never finish it. 🙂
• You just love to write. You are compelled to write.You can’t imagine ever not writing. It’s your purpose and your calling from God. He made you to write.

Whatever your reason(s) for wanting to write a book, this is your time. This is your year! You can turn those writing dreams into reality. 

To write a book, it’s like investing: you plan ahead, start early, and then start doing something instead of just talking about it.

 

You can get started writing your book by attending my free webinar on Friday, March 7, @ 10 a.m. Central Time. This webinar has limited seating. Click here to save your spot. 

I can’t wait to see you there!

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