As mentioned in the previous blog post, today I wanted to talk about why you're here. What is your purpose of writing, your ultimate goal?
If you don't know the answer to that, don't worry. When I started writing I never had a particular reason for doing it. I was ten years old, and it started as a journaling habit. I did it for fun. You may be the same: you do it for fun.
Or, you may be in it for a deeper, more personal reason. Do you do it because it's your way of making money? Perhaps you use writing as a mental escape? Or maybe you want to achieve something with your writing, like publish a book or spread a message?
Whatever your reason is, there is no wrong answer.
However, there ARE wrong motivations to writing that can actually hinder you from reaching your goal. Stephen King makes a good point about this in his memoir, "On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft", which you can find a link to in my last blog post entitled "The Best Book on Writing" (I highly encourage you to check it out if you want to learn on ways to improve your writing).
As Stephen King writes in his memoir,“Writing isn't about making money, getting famous, getting dates, getting laid, or making friends. In the end, it's about enriching the lives of those who will read your work, and enriching your own life, as well. It's about getting up, getting well, and getting over. Getting happy, okay? Getting happy.”
Above all, writing as a way to be happy. Have you ever thought of writing that way?
It's okay if you haven't, and it's okay if you still don't. But if writing is going to be a part of your life, don't let it be a negative one filled with the wrong motivations. You see, you will actually get a lot more out of writing if you allow it to be a means of enriching lives--your life, the lives of your readers, anyone.
After all, if you're actually enjoying what you're writing, there is a higher chance that others will too, and that can bring you closer to your goal. But be mindful: this works both ways. If you doubt yourself and your writing, other people will doubt you too (another lesson learned from King's memoir). It's important that you are reaching for the longer end of the stick here.
So write! And be happy doing it. In the end, both the journey and the product will be rewarding.
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