Are You Writing for the Wrong Reason?
Why do you write? What’s your point? Who do you hope to reach? What do you have to say? These are a clarifying questions. Asking them brings your motives into focus.
Focus
[foh-kuh
s]
a point upon which attention, activity, etc, is directed or concentrated
I remember a point in my writing career when I went to my husband for some advice. I was in a bad frame of mind. You know the one. You get so overwhelmed with writing and editing and marketing your work that you end up feeling like a person with ADHD in the drugstore trying to decide which cold medicine to choose from the never-ending brands and remedies. You could stand there for hours and walk out with one of each brand name.
After recounting to my husband all the things I had to do to actually be a writer and get published, my husband made one statement to me that shaped the way I write, what I write and most importantly, why I write.
Keiki, if you are writing for money, you are writing for the wrong reason.
As a freelance writer, at first my husbands words seemed ludicrous to me. I mean freelance writers do what we do to make money, right? We need to make a living, right? Of course, we want to make money, who doesn’t? But considering that my husband knew exactly where I was in my writing career and what I wanted to accomplish, his advice set me free and changed the how, the what, and the why of my writing.
If you are a writer, you have a drive to write. You find yourself taking notes on whatever pieces of paper you can find. You hear a word or a phrase that catches your attention and find beauty in it. You capture these words and phrases in notebooks and journals so you can return to it and explore that word or that phrase.
For writers, words are beautiful.
When I assessed that my writing is a craft, a creative endeavor that I would always take part in whether I was ever published or not, I began to see the wisdom in those words.
Writing solely for money strips the beauty from the words. Writing because you want to share what you know, express an ingenious story, or minister to another allows you to couple your love for words with everything creative within you.
What’s your motivation for writing? Are you writing because it is in you to write or are you writing because there is money to be made? Yes, these are clarifying questions. Take some time to assess your motives. It just might increase your writing 100 fold.
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About Keiki
Keiki Hendrix writes bible studies, devotions, and non-fiction books for women. She has a passion for discovering wonder.
On her website The Vessel Project, a website for those who love Christian books, she publishes author interviews from both published and emerging authors, book reviews, new releases, free resources and news about Christian publishing.
Keiki also designs web sites for Christian authors and other organizations. For a complete list of her recent work, visit her portfolio page. Authors & Writers on Twitter
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Okay, I had to read this one right away because I wrestle with this all the time. Bottom line, I’ve learned from years of experience, I mostly write because I HAVE to. It’s a disease at time. Other times, it’s downright blissful. Either way, it’s a directive, a talent, a drive, delivered from God. He gave it to us. We must use it to glorify him in whatever manner. Loved this posting, Keiki, as with all your others. Thanks for this.
Love that… Sometimes a disease, sometimes blissful. Putting that in my word book. Thanks so much.
Amen! Great article, Keiki!
Thanks Lisa… Love your new blog… Fliterary.com
Sounds like you have a wise hubby, Keiki. Great advice for us all. Thanks for sharing!
Wise husband? I think so too. He’s a gem.
I write because I love stories. Love reading them. Love writing them. For entertainment, certainly. But more importantly, stories convey higher truth. As a preacher I found people remembered the stories I told long after they forgot my well-alliterated three points. The combination of logic, emotion, and visual image is a powerful communication tool. Thanks, Keiki, for helping me remember this.
My pleasure… It was a great reminder for me as well.
I write because it’s my truest ‘voice.’ No matter how much I try to escape it, writing is in my blood. I actually resisted writing in my early years. I’m not sure why – but it always finds its way back into my life.
So here I am, writing away. I love it.
I enjoyed the post Keiki.
Thank you, Danielle. I wonder how many writers are closet writers and never pursue their Passion. I am glad you decided to pursue yours.
Good article, Keiki. I love to write. Always have. I say things in writing much better than spoken words. Including praying. I remember thinking as I was writing my novel–do I want this published? Do I want to do the marketing part? It bothered me to think about it. Then a friend, who was starting an independent publishing company, read my manuscript and wanted to publish it. I took it as a “God thing.” Now I’m knee deep in the marketing and not writing much. I think I’m at the point where you were. I know I’m supposed to do all things as unto the Lord (my best). My favorite verses are Prov. 16:9 and 19:21. I’m hanging on to them.
As an author and independent publisher myself, I can truthfully say that the hardest thing a writer or publisher will ever do is market his/her work. It’s absolutely mind-numbing and all-consuming! If you can find someone who is both able and willing, let him/her do it for you. Since I haven’t found such a person yet, if you know of anyone interested in doing this, please refer them to me.