The other day someone wrote me and said this:
“I’m presenting at an upcoming local book marketing summit. My topic is The ROI of Book Marketing and part of my presentation addresses the different reason authors write books (it isn’t all about money). I would like to highlight a few authors, and you came to mind. If you don’t want to respond, that is fine, but if you do, I have one question: Why do you write books?”
And this is how I responded:
Why do I write books? Good question. I’ve asked myself this question many a time.
It is a long, hard, arduous road, filled with rejection, doubts and isolation.
On the other hand, it’s a way to share stories, information, feelings, explore what it is to be human and to experience life more fully in a way that you can’t quite experience any other way or in any other writing format — writing a book is also somehow magically fun — at least some of the time.
I also find it incredibly rewarding putting it together with your editor and everyone else involved and then having it go out in the world to do its thing and discussing it with people. And when it touches another person in some unexpected way, any pain you went through to do it is well worth it.
But really, why do I write books? Why do any of us do anything in the arts? In the course of my career, I’ve acted, made films and written professionally. When I started as an actress in New York in my early 20s, I had a roommate who had always been a singer and actor since her teens. I had just started acting professionally and my parents weren’t happy about it. I almost quit. And my roommate said to me, “This isn’t a profession that you pick. It picks you. Why would you do it otherwise?” I never forgot that because it’s so true… a career in the arts is not a safe or easy road to take by any means…
So in pondering this, the reason I write books, maybe the reason anyone who writes books sits down and takes the time to do it — hours, days, weeks, months, years — and is willing to suffer through it all — getting it down, getting it right, surviving the rejections and criticisms — is that we’re COMPELLED to do so. It is just something we have to do. So we do it. The work is hard and can seem endless but the rewards of growth and connection and accomplishment are beyond your wildest dreams. Have you noticed how some people who write books say they think they won’t do it again, then a few years later…a new book! This is why — they’re compelled. And it’s the only way they can really say what they need to and someone/maybe more than someONE out there needs to read what they have to say and somehow that book will find its way into the right one’s hands. I believe that. This is why we write books.
Also, I write books because I LOVE books and the world of books and the readers and the people who love them as much as I do. It’s a magical world … and I have to admit, I’m a little bit addicted to all the magic I can find.
Why do you do what you do? Do you know? It’s an interesting exercise to articulate it – whatever it is – and write it down.
(Top photo: Elise writing book, Epiphany. Photo below: Elise’s desk in the midst of writing Epiphany.)
