6 Reasons You Should Write A Book!

I hear it all the time, "I'd love to write a book, but..."

I get it. I was there, too. I had this little girl's dream of writing a book, but a grown woman's life full of obstacles. It wasn't until I decided that I was going to publish a book no matter what that it finally happened. I had to stop focusing on all the reasons I couldn't do it and ...do it anyway.

Here are 6 reasons you CAN write a book.

1) You are already writing stuff.

Let's be honest. If you are reading this, there is a good chance that you have old document files or old notebooks filled with half stories, poems, little notes about characters or plots, or maybe even full manuscripts.

If you are already investing the time into writing, why not take it the next step? Why not finish some of those stories? Why not gather up the poems into a collection? Why not tell that character's story, that character that's been sitting on your shoulder whispering in your ear for years?

Why not? It's the most powerful question, the most freeing one that I asked myself two years ago when I decided to pursue writing. It's a question that can be your ally. If publishing sounds like a lifelong dream come true, ask yourself: Why not?

2) Self-publishing is accessible to everyone.

Times have changed. Gone are the days when you had no option except to send off a query letter and the first five pages of your finished manuscript and pray, pray, pray an editor wanted to publish. With sites like Amazon's KDP, it's literally a matter of pushing some buttons to put your work into the world.

Yes, there is more to it than that if you want a quality book. Yes, it's still nerve-wracking, clicking that final "Publish My Book" button. Yes, you have some footwork to do if you want it to actually sell.

BUT...it's all stuff you can do. There is no one stopping you. There is no obstacle except what you are willing and not willing to take the time to do.

What about cover art? There are countless websites offering pre-made cover art, available to purchase and put your name and title on, and often for less than $100. Sometimes, way less.

What about formatting? If you use Amazon's KDP, there is a free software called Kindle Create. You can literally throw your Word doc into it, and it does the heavy lifting of formatting for you.

What about if I'm afraid to do it? So is everyone else. Be brave, my friend.

And if you need someone to talk to, someone who will listen as you hyperventilate while attempting to format your own book, contact me. I was there. I will listen and remind you that you can do this. If I can do it, so can you. Honest.

3) There is a ton of free information about the craft of writing to help you make a quality story.

I hear you out there, in the back. You're brow is furrowed at me and your saying to yourself, "But I don't want to put out a big piece of junk. I want people to like my story. I want it to be good!"

Hold on to that desire! You need that! If you want to produce a quality book (or poetry collection? memoir? non-fiction book?), there are so many resources out there that can help you. Skillshare, Udemy and countless others offer classes (hint: some free ones as well!) on writing. Some colleges and universities offer free classes to the public, and sometimes they are also about writing.

Also, check out your local library and independent bookstores. You'd be surprised how often they host writing workshops, writing groups and/or author signings. Lurk around at those events and ask questions! You will be surprised how much knowledge you can soak up without spending a dime!

And if that doesn't work for you, there are countless books out there that will help you write and edit your own books. A personal favorite of mine is "Self-editing for Fiction Writers" by Renni Browne and Dave King, which you can find here.

If you want to produce a quality book, there are numerous paths you can follow to achieve that, not the least of which is hiring an editing service. It's really a choose-your-own-adventure path, but one you are more than capable of navigating!

4) It's the beginning of passive income.

If you are following any financial advice gurus at all, you've heard of passive income. I've been increasingly surprised since starting my publishing journey how often these gurus offer up self-publishing a book as a path to passive income.

Let me be frank, it's unlikely that you will be able to quit your job or retire early after publishing one book. In fact, my research shows that you need to get to about the fifth book before you are really seeing a noticeable return on your investment.

But it's something. Imagine how you would feel when you opened up your online banking account and saw that little line, "KDP payment." And, maybe in the beginning it's a small number that follows, but it's a start. If you are like me, and you are not independently wealthy, that little start could mean a lot for your future financial well-being.

Don't believe me that there are people advising this as a means of passive income? Here's a link to one of my favorite money channels on YouTube and their video about passive income. My best advice is to talk to authors and have realistic expectations when it comes to the money side of self-publishing. But also remember, you have to start somewhere.

5) Someone needs your story.

I know this sounds cheesy. I've heard it before and rolled my eyes. As a fiction writer who seems to feature a lot of talking animals, it was pretty hard to sell me on this idea.

Really? Does someone need another YA fantasy with a talking cat?

Let me share with you a message I got once from a reader:

Arguably, this reader would have lived through the night regardless of whether she'd had my book or not. But she needed a break, and I gave that to her. Is there someone out there who needs the little reprieve from a hard time that you could provide?

Stories are healing in ways that we still don't totally understand. Imagine if there was a person out there struggling with communicating their needs and/or feelings. Imagine that that same person could use your words to help communicate with their family and friends? Isn't that worth your time and effort?

If you don't believe me, look up your favorite author and read some of their Amazon reviews. Find an author's Facebook group and look at what people are saying. It's endlessly amazing to me how much a reader can love and appreciate a work of fiction.

What was your favorite book as a child? Can you imagine your childhood without it? What is your favorite book now? What does that book mean to you? Now imagine, that your book is that for someone else. It's a powerful motivator, imagining a stranger hugging your book in their arms.

Who is waiting on your book? You'll never know until you write it and put it out in the world.

6) You are awesome.

Cue more eye rolling, I know. But really.

If you don't think you're awesome, talk to someone who doesn't imagine entire fantasy worlds in their head while waiting in line at the pharmacy. Talk to a true non-writer, that person in your life who doesn't talk to themselves, doesn't imagine a secret life for their cat, doesn't have an idea what a stranger walking the mall might be up to (other people do that, right? Not just me?). A five minute conversation with someone who doesn't do those things will remind you that you are, in fact, special.

Maybe you don't feel like it's a good thing right now, but it is.

Your imagination is a gift. It's a gift that some other people really wish they had. Are you constantly making up crazy stories for the kids in your life? Do you go on long walks or hikes and imagine yourself as Lewis and/or Clark (or Sacagawea, maybe?) exploring the west? Do you see a cemetery and imagine fictional life stories for the names on the headstones? If someone asks you where a road goes, do you feel an impulse to tell them about a magical city at the end of it?

This kind of story-creating imagination probably makes you feel weird. And, well....go hang out with some other fiction writers. We are weird. But in a really wonderful way. Embrace it. Your weirdness is awesome.

Think of your favorite fantasy novel and imagine pitching that idea to someone for the first time. "What if there was an invisible platform in a British train station?" or maybe "What if there was a ring, but like...it's really evil. And a bunch of people go on a cross-country trek to throw it in a volcano?" Often, your fellow writers will be excited and cheer you on because they can envision the awesomeness. Non-creatives will look at you weird, but only because they can't.

We aren't better than anyone else. I know some people who couldn't imagine a story line up to save their life, but they have other mind-blowing talents (often more profitable ones! haha!). However, I think the beauty in diversity is when we embrace what makes us awesome and run with it. Then, in turn, cheer on others in their awesomeness.

So do it. Be awesome. Get out there and publish a book. Share your awesomeness with the world. There will always be reasons not to do things. What is your reason to do it anyway?