A client recently told her neighbor she was working on her second book. The neighbor looked at her in awe and said, “How long have you been a writer?”
That question stuck with me. I could see the neighbor thinking that writing a book required special training. That it wasn’t something as simple as sharing stories to encourage others—something the neighbor probably does every day.
So many of us think we can’t share our stories. We’re blocked by feelings that tell us, “I’m not ready,” “I’m not qualified,” or “I’m not a writer.” The truth is if you want to share your story, you’re already closer than you think.
Writing a book doesn’t require certain qualifications. It’s an act of sharing what matters most to you with the people who need it most. If you have something on your heart to share, that’s enough to begin.
The Mindset of Sharing Your Story
Everyone has awesome stories or wisdom to share. Your book will bless someone and is worth creating. But many people will disqualify themselves, saying, “I’m not a writer. I can’t write a book.” Others will disqualify themselves even sooner, thinking, Wow, that must be great to be someone who can write a book. Sharing their story isn’t even on their radar.
If you’ve ever felt this way, it’s okay. You’re not alone. It’s a normal feeling. It often pops up even when a person has started writing a book.
If you have a story you would like to share with others—family, friends, future generations, someone just starting out their adult or married life, starting on a career path like yours, or struggling through what you have overcome—don’t let those disqualifying thoughts stand in your way. If you want to share your story, you should. You already have everything you need.
You Can Write a Book
Maybe you don’t consider yourself a writer. What does that really mean? Does it mean you don’t have a degree in English or journalism or a master’s degree in fine arts? Perhaps you haven’t taken a writing class. That doesn’t mean you’re not a writer, and it certainly doesn’t mean you can’t write a book.
Most of us write as part of our job or daily life—reports, updates, emails, reviews, social media posts, correspondence, notes on birthday cards. So, we are all writers. If you can write an email sharing something with a friend or family member, you can write a book. It’s true!
What most people really mean when they say they’re not a writer is that they’re not a professional writer. Writing a book isn’t limited to professional writers. Many professional writers never write a book; they focus on writing articles, reports, web pages.
Writing a book is about sharing your story, wisdom, legacy, testimony, reflections, encouragement. You can be a teacher, parent, business person, pet sitter, student, retired person, or anyone who has something to share. If you have something on your heart that you would like to share in a book, you can write that book.
Your Story Matters
Think about a book that has impacted you. What stood out most about that book? What did you connect with? What do you remember most? It may be a sentence, or a piece of advice, or a feeling of well-being.
Here are some common reasons books stick with us:
- We feel encouraged.
- We gain insight.
- We have hope to overcome a situation.
- We learn something new and interesting.
- We can relate to what the author shares.
- We experience emotions.
- We feel refreshed.
- We discover a new perspective on an old problem.
Those are just some of many reasons we connect with books. Take a look at that list again. Can you help someone in one of those ways? Your book can do that for others.
If you spend a moment reflecting on books you’ve read, you’ll recognize the things you connected with weren’t complicated. They came from a person like yourself sharing a piece of life with you in a book.
You can share your life in a way that connects with others, just like those people did in the books you remember. You’re probably already doing that in some way every day, sharing your life with people around you. Putting it in a book just means putting on paper what you already do to help and encourage people.
If you have the desire to share your story, legacy, wisdom, encouragement with others, that is enough reason for you to write a book.
A Simple Step
What legacy would you like to leave? What encouragement or help would you like to offer? To whom?
How about taking one simple step today? Write down one reason you want to share your story and who you want to share it with. By taking that step, you’re already on your way to creating your own book.
Feel free to explore this blog for next steps toward writing your book, your way. Writing a simple letter is a helpful way to begin. Writing a book means taking one baby step at a time and enjoying the journey.
Janet Eriksson 