Why Write

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I once asked a colleague how his book sales were going. His response to my question was, ‘Nothing of any significance.’ As the books he had published up to that point were autobiographical, I asked, ‘Do you think the genre is a winner in the marketplace?’

He replied sharply, ‘I don’t know, but it doesn’t matter to me, as I write for my enjoyment, not to make money.’

I once took on a contract to ghostwrite three self-help non-fiction books. Hearing this news, my colleague commented, ‘How can you sell your ideas without showing your name as author?’ I responded that I needed the experience and enjoyed the dollars paid.

These are just two of the many different reasons why people write books.

Over time, I pondered my colleague’s words, and because the pay was tiny for my time and the pressure of time restraints, I stopped ghostwriting. I may have continued if the ghostwriting had been financially rewarding and there had been less pressure on production time.

‘Why?’ you ask.

 Because I enjoyed the writing and I was proud of my finished work.

Unlike my colleagues, I like to get paid for what I write and prefer it if my name appears as the author. These are not reasons for my writing, though. Putting ‘pen to paper’ is an emotional experience for me. It allows me to express thoughts and ideas otherwise hidden from myself (I’m often amazed at what emerges from the tip of my pen) and those who read my words.

I am a man who has had a far-from-boring life and enjoyed the privilege of growing up in a country where I received a well-rounded education. In Africa, I saw nature at its best and experienced the delights of freedom in the bushveld. Later, I savored city life in South Africa and success in my business. I gained a pilot’s license, flew around the country, climbed mountains, ski-raced in the warm waters of the Vaal River, and many, many more exciting ventures.

Because of my life experience, I became an avid storyteller. Along this beautiful journey and as I would relate my stories, many people asked if I had ever written a book about my life. I thought about this often – after all, I was a competing public speaker in Toastmasters, a debater, and well-versed in my native English. So, I began the first of many attempts to write a book about my life. To no avail – I could not put pen to paper, although my head was swimming with stories and ideas. Eventually, I gave up.

I met and married my wife, Eileen, who suggested  I try blogging. I have always said I started writing because of being under the shadow of my Eileen’s ‘big stick’ that forced me to sit at the keyboard and write, write, write. One day, when I looked at my production, I realized I had blogged over five hundred articles!

I then began writing my first novel by sitting down and typing away. I set a goal of ninety thousand words, and after reaching sixty thousand words of a paranormal romance (a story we both love), I had an idea. Eileen and I discussed publishing a book of short stories, as I had an extensive collection of blog articles from which to work. Putting these together, we published our first book, which consisted of fourteen short stories and five poems, promising to return to the novel later.

Looking back, I realized that ‘writing a book’ was not necessarily how I needed to start my writing career. These days, I suggest that others start writing whatever comes into their mind—writing short stories, essays, and articles, whether fiction or non-fiction, is much simpler than writing a book. Once you have spent time writing the above articles, you could look at writing a book. Hopefully, you will meet an ‘Eileen’ with a ‘big stick’ and become disciplined and committed to writing.

Joining a writing group and participating in writing workshops helps you grow as a writer. Unless it is part of your nature, don’t compete with others – instead, focus on creating. Remember, no one is ‘better’ than you; they are just ‘different’ from you. Your writing style will be enjoyed by some and disliked by others. Trying to be like others is a dead-end path. Learn from others, yes, but do not copy others.

Now, start writing –