On Becoming a Bestseller (1)

Let's get started from the very beginning. And that's from a simple but fundamental question: Why do you write? Or why do you want to write? Have you thought about it before, the reason why you put your thoughts on paper? On the journey to becoming a bestselling author, you need to have a clear and compelling "WHY" that precedes your writing efforts.

Now, this question is different from another question, which we will ask later: Why do write books? Or why do you want to write a book? Related, but different. So, get ready to answer the first question. At the end of this session, I want you to be able to say, I write because...

Before you conclude on the reason why you write, please note that there are no right or wrong answers. There is no universal reason why writers write. You may have your unique reason for writing. And you should. You should also, be conscious of it and be motivated by it - daily.

I know why I write. Because God called me to write. The day after I gave my life to Christ, I was blessed with a gift to write. I had no love for writing or reading prior to this time. Suddenly, I found that I had something inside me that I wanted to put on paper, and I did so for nineteen hours! The grace that was given to me was the ability to capture the flow of inspiration and express it in written words. Two decades later, I still tap into inward inspiration better through writing than I do through speaking. I also believe that the inspiration I receive is not just for me but for the world at large. This is another reason why I write.

I will share yet another reason. More than twenty years ago, not long after I had become a Christian, I used to have bouts with depression. At those times, I even found it difficult to pray. One thing helped me, though. Writing. Through writing, I was able to offload my heart and connect with my inner self. I believed (and still do) that God read what I wrote, so I always wrote the truth from my heart - exactly how I felt. And it worked! It still does.

These are my foundational reasons. What are yours? Do you write because writing is your profession? Do you write because you have a love for writing? Do you write because you want to combat some injustice in the world? Do you write because you have something to say through your writing? Do you write because you have a gift of writing to share with the world? Do you write because you just have to write? Whatever your reason, be convinced of it and inspired by it - daily!

Later, the relevance of this first question will become clear. Those who have a clear and compelling WHY go all the way in pursuit of their writing goals. Because you have a WHY, go on and write some more!

(NEXT: We'll discuss the question, To Whom do you write?)

PS - Please leave comments on the Blog or on the Facebook group, The Writers' Well. Thanks.