11 Reasons to Write (and Watch New Doors Open in Your Life)
In case you're on the fence about whether writing's worth the effort
Words stick around.
You write them once, but they’re found years later.
In a diary.
On a Substack post.
In the novel you wrote that your grandchild picks up when in her teens.
Words live outside of now.
Which is why we still enjoy the thoughts of William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, and Marcus Aurelius centuries later.
However, leaving a legacy may not be what motivates you to write.
And it is important to clarify your why.
It’s what will keep you going when you’d rather not.
So here are 11 more reasons, each with an example in a celebrated book.
Let’s dig in.
1. Writing helps you process your experiences
Writing about your lived experiences is a powerful way to make sense of past events. You’ll gain new insights about yourself (and yes, it’s cheaper than therapy).
An example of this is “Educated: A Memoir” by Tara Westover.
The book tells the story of the author’s upbringing in a strict, conservative family in rural Idaho and her journey to obtain a higher education. It explores the power of education and the challenges of breaking away from one’s past.
2. Writing helps you find your community
When you write about your area of expertise, you connect with others who share your interests or experiences. Your words can serve as a beacon for others who are searching for knowledge, guidance, or inspiration in your field.
Brene Brown’s book “Daring Greatly” helped her connect with a large community of readers who saw themselves reflected in her research on vulnerability and shame.
3. Writing helps you build your brand or business
If you’re an expert in a particular area, writing can establish you as a thought leader. It’s a calling card for potential clients or customers and helps build your personal or professional brand. If you’re looking to establish yourself as an authority, writing a book or online can be a great way to do it.
Tim Ferriss’s “The 4-Hour Work Week” helped him become a lighthouse in the fields of productivity and entrepreneurship.
4. Writing helps you make a difference in the world
If you have expertise that can make a positive impact on the world, writing can share that knowledge with a wide audience. It can inspire others to make changes in their own lives or communities. A book can spread your message.
Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring” sounded the alarm about the dangers of pesticides and helped launch the modern environmental movement.
5. Writing is a treasure hunt for the curious
Writing lets you dive deep into a subject that fascinates you, uncovering new insights and connections. It’s a way to flex your creative muscles and experiment with new forms and styles.
David Epstein, a former sports writer, took a detour from his area of expertise to explore the benefits of being a generalist instead of a specialist in “Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World.”
6. Writing is a way to connect with your roots
Writing can explore and celebrate your family history or cultural heritage. It’s a way to honor the past while sharing its lessons with a wider audience.
Michael Twitty’s “The Cooking Gene” is an example of this. He’s a culinary historian who explored his African-American and Jewish heritage through food. Growing up in the American South, he was inspired to write the book by his own quest to understand his family’s history.
7. Writing gives a voice to the natural world
Writing can share your experience of the natural world. It gives voice to silent creatures and helps others understand different ways of seeing the world.
“The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness” by Sy Montgomery takes us into the lives and personalities of octopuses. The book celebrates the diversity of the natural world and the power of curiosity and empathy.
8. Writing is a way to bridge cultural divides
Writing can build connections and bridge divides across cultural or geographic communities by sharing stories and perspectives.
“The Namesake” by Jhumpa Lahiri is a novel exploring the experiences of a Bengali-American family, weaving together themes of identity, culture, and belonging.
9. Writing can help you heal from loss or grief
Writing can help you come to terms with grief and find meaning. It can also provide comfort and guidance to others.
“The Year of Magical Thinking” by Joan Didion is an excellent example of this. Didion’s memoir explores her experience of grief after her husband’s sudden death. As a renowned journalist and essayist, Didion used writing as a way to make sense of her loss.
10. Writing can help you navigate hard times
Writing can help you deal with crises and uncertainties. It offers hope and inspiration to readers.
In “The Light We Carry,” Michelle Obama writes about how to stay grounded and purposeful in unsettled times. She shares lessons from her own life and offers strategies to overcome self-limiting stories.
11. Writing can help you find out what you think
Ask any writer and you’ll hear how the act of writing helps you uncover what you think and believe.
As the master of good writing, William Zinsser, said in “On Writing Well,”
But writing isn’t a skill that some people are born with and others aren’t, like a gift for art or music. Writing is talking to someone else on paper. Anybody who can think clearly can write clearly, about any subject at all.
Takeaway:
Writers write for many reasons. Some start a process of self-discovery. Others are outward-looking, seeking impact.
In every case, writing is an adventure.
And writing’s personal, because only you’ve lived your stories.
When you find your why, your writing will reflect that unique passion that drives you.
And that’s the juice that will make the writing compelling to us, your readers.