“Writing is its
own reward.”
Henry Miller

In the past eight years, I have published six books. Are they good books? I would like to think so, but that’s not for me to say. Only those who have read my books could make such a claim. Throughout my lifetime, writing has been, and continues to be, an enjoyable task. In the era prior to social media, email, and texting, I was an avid letter writer. For many years, I corresponded with a number of people by means of handwritten notes and letters which were sent via what is now referred to as “snail mail.” I am convinced that my writing skills developed significantly as a result of this practice.

When I enrolled at Santa Clara University, I declared my major as English, with an emphasis on writing. In those years, I was challenged to hone the skills I had developed through my high school years.

It wasn’t until many years later that I first considered the possibility of writing a book myself. That seemed to be something other people did,… you know, smart people! The more books I read, however, the more inspired I became to publish some of my own work.  

My six books, as well as pieces I’ve published in my blog through the years, are not for everyone. I have no doubt that there are those who are unchanged, perhaps even uninspired, as a result of reading what I’ve written. The truth is, I don’t write for them. I write for myself, and I write for those, even if it is only one person, who just might need to read exactly what I’ve written on a specific topic at a particular time in their life.

Will there be a seventh book for me? Most likely, yes, though I have not yet settled on a topic or genre. Through my experience of writing and publishing, I am convinced that many others could benefit from writing and sharing their own unique stories. Everyone has a story to tell, but most people I know seem reticent about putting that story into writing. 

Ann Lamott is a novelist and nonfiction writer based here in the San Francisco Bay Area. While we are the same age, Ann is a much more prolific writer than I could ever hope to be. Her writing has inspired me both personally and professionally. In her book, Bird by Bird, Ann encourages readers to write, even if publishing one’s work is not a priority for them.

She wrote, “I still encourage anyone who feels at all compelled to write to do so. I just try to warn people who hope to get published that publication is not all that it is cracked up to be. But writing is. Writing has so much to give, so much to teach, so many surprises.”

What story do you have inside you? What life experiences might inspire others if they had the opportunity to read about them?

Do it for yourself… and for that one person.