WHY ON EARTH SHOULD I WRITE?

What? Did I hear you right?

I’m surprised someone is still asking this question when we can hardly do anything these days without putting pen to paper or fingers to keyboard.

Where don’t we write and why won’t we write, should be the appropriate questions.

     However, I’m not talking about all the academic, professional or business writings we must do every day; what I’m talking about is you choosing to be a writer… and why not?

Image courtesy of Domdeen/freedigitalphotos.net

    Here are ten good reasons you must consider having your name printed on a written work.  
                  

      1.       EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

Virtually everything human beings do these days requires writing. Apart from talking, it remains the most popular mode of communication in this information age. Writing affords you the chance to express yourself in your own way and reach an unpredictable number of people spread all over the world. 

      2.     PRESERVE YOUR THOUGHTS AND MEMORIES

We are still reading Shakespeare, John Wesley, Albert Brown, James Fausset Brown, George Bernard Shaw, Williams Woodsworth, Henry Miller, George Elliot, Kenneth E. Hagin, and many other great minds that passed through this world. Their works still speak. They continue to teach, inspire, and influence people and this will continue for as long as the earth remains.

What are you leaving for posterity?

     Why not record your thoughts and those valuable experiences for now and the future. Your writings immortalize you whether you become a bestseller or not. 

      
      3.     AIR YOUR VIEWS

You have opinions and thoughts that are worth sharing. Why keep it to yourself or to your circle of friends? Write and publish them. You never can tell the immediate or future impact.

We all have experiences in our lives from which others can learn. These experiences come from day to day encounters with people and our environment. Our family, relationships, faith, profession, etc provide us with unlimited writing ideas from which people will enjoy reading and learning.

      4.     PUBLICIZE YOUR BUSINESS OR WORK

I always say, “If you don’t promote your products and services, Who Will? No one knows your business better than you do. No one can write about it better than you will.

     Write about what you do, why you do what you do, how you do what you do and where you do it. Writing exposes you to potential customers in a way that few other marketing tools do.

      5.       LEARN MORE

A good writer is a good reader.

Writing keeps you mentally alert because you are always searching for knowledge to share. Many times, clients have asked me to write on subjects I don’t know much about. I have done reports and summaries on professional topics that are unfamiliar. Nevertheless, I’m able to deliver by doing lots of research on the topic. I read books, search for relevant content on the internet and sometimes interview people. By the time I’m through, I’ve learnt a whole lot and become more enlightened.

     Writing motivates you to do more research about all kinds of things; processes, technologies, discoveries, countries, histories, cultures, etc. You are always learning about things you would otherwise never consider. 

      

       6.     SHARE KNOWLEDGE

“If you have knowledge, let others light their candles by it.” -Fuller

This is a good enough reason to write. Teaching others what you know is a great investment that will yield lasting dividends, not only for you but also for the society. The beauty of Knowledge is seen only when it is shared. After all, what you know, you gathered from thoughts and experiences of others.

Whatever you share, multiplies. Teach others what you know by writing about it and you will soon grow into a well of wisdom.

        7.     A GREAT THERAPY

Writing about traumatic, stressful or emotional events has been found to result in improvements in both physical and psychological health. Psychiatrists call it “Expressive writing.” They ask survivors of trauma in psychiatric settings to write about such events for 15–20 minutes on 3–5 occasions.

Psychiatrist Kay Wilhelm wrote that over the past 20 years, a growing body of literature has demonstrated the beneficial effects that writing about traumatic or stressful events has on physical and emotional health. “Writing has helped people to resolve longstanding issues about relationships at home and work, and to put into words feelings that have been too sensitive to describe face to face.”

Writing is therapeutic. It relieves stress and anxiety and gives you a sense of fulfillment.

You can only prove this by trying it.

      8.     BECOME A REFERENCE

When you author and publish a book, report or article, someone who reads you will most likely quote you. Writing makes you a source of reliable information on a subject.

      9.     BOOST YOUR PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

Writing distinguishes you. The truth is, we all rate writers high. We assume they know better about what they write than the rest in their field. Writing confers on you a star status in your area of expertise. Even if there are others who are more proficient and experienced, people who have read you will choose you because they know you.

      10.  MAKE MONEY

Writing has become a money-spinner in this information age. Apart from writing your own books or articles, you can write for people or websites and make lots of money. Many people are getting rich through online writing. It’s big business if you are serious about it. The more professional and versatile you are as a writer, the more opportunities you will have.

Take a chance and write.

Your book may even win an award or become a bestseller; you just cannot tell. Many of those who wrote bestsellers didn’t plan it. They just wrote, giving it their best shot and made it.

Michael Martel, the author of the Green Beret Series says, “Don’t bother about getting it perfect, just get it started.”

Writing is one of the most enlightening and rewarding art on earth. Rewarding, not only in terms of money, but in the fulfillment and joy it gives when someone reads you and gives a comment, make an observation or even criticizes you. Few things in life give such a gratification.

If you need help with getting started, talk to us. We will guide you through, from the idea stage to the bookstores.

E-mail - penparables@gmail.com

Grace Olumayowa Aideloje

Grace is a Writer, Editor and Proofreader. She teaches Writing Classes and motivates young writers to write and publish their works. Her passion is to empower people through knowledge sharing. She is the initiator of the Christian WAR Forum.

©2012 PenParables

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