Should you really write this year?
It’s a new year, and as writers, we have all set goals when it comes to writing. If you’re like me, you get very excited and proclaim to the world that you’re going to write one millllllion words in 2018 (said in your best Oprah voice)! We picture ourselves in some quaint rustic cabin overlooking a glistening landscape of snow, and there we are sitting by the fire eagerly typing away at a vintage typewriter. It’s a scene straight out of a movie and we look beautiful as the kind of writer everyone else longs to be.
Then we wake up.
Oh, we want to write like that but the reality of our life is instead of a cabin we have a messy house. The snow is actually a mirage for the mountains of laundry we still need to get done. And there’s absolutely no time to sit by a fire because the kids are screaming, our “real job” is asking for overtime, and our computer keeps crashing and causing us to say words that Jesus wouldn’t like.
The life of a writer is usually not at all what people think it is. With a new year already in full force, we have to carve out time to write or it simply won’t get done. It is very easy to keep putting off the blog post, the article, or that novel we know we need to write, but I want to remind you of something that is so easy to forget.
People need your words.
As writers, we have something to say and no one else can share our message or our story like we can. We have a voice and the beautiful thing about our craft is that we share that voice through the written word. As you are contemplating whether or not to start or to finish, there are people out in the world waiting to read your words. They don’t even know they need them yet but the world has a way of connecting readers with writers and making a real difference.
Writing helps us express a part of our life that needs to be fulfilled. It deepens our understanding of how our gifts work together to connect us all as humans. So yes, writing is about us but it’s also about them. Without your words, they might miss out on a chance to laugh which diffuses the stress of their day.
Your story might give someone the chance to escape from the day-to-day and immerse themselves in another world. Your words might change the way someone thinks about a particular issue or they might give someone the strength to believe that their life matters too.
Yes, your words have power and meaning and can make an eternal difference.
So if you need a little motivation to start, I’m here to give you the green light! If you’re overwhelmed and not sure if you should keep going, I’m here to cheer you on! I am standing up and screaming YES, write! You’re a writer and we need your words! Give yourself permission to get up early, to stay up late, or retreat to your room for a few minutes and write. Let 2018 be the year that you use this amazing gift that you have been given. There’s a world out there that needs it and we can’t wait to hear what you have to say.
Kevin Buchanan is a motivational writer and speaker and loves calling Nashville home. He is the author of The World Needs Your Hustle and encourages others to embrace the truth that their life matters and to believe in what is possible for their life. He is a lover of Target, Chick Fil A, and all things buffalo plaid. You can learn more about Kevin’s work and upcoming projects at kevinbuchanan.me