You were called to write for a reason

Hi Reader,

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about words. Not in the linguistics sense, or even in the grammatical sense. But in how they are their own source of power.

Whoever said sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me was dead wrong. Words can hurt. And yet, we also have The pen is mightier than the sword. Words are power.

Our words have the power to create and destroy. To connect and uplift others. To build walls or tear down bridges. They can spur you to action, move you to tears, convince you to buy something, or break your world apart.

As humans, it is our unique design to be able to use words to do all of these things. For better or worse. Think about that for a second.

That’s pretty powerful.

The other week, Taylor Swift came out with a new album, which blew up the world. Love her or hate her, Taylor is loved by fans, I’d argue, more for her lyrics—her words—than her music. Musicians touch our hearts because their words are set to music that makes our souls dance.

Comedians get up on stage and fill the world with laughter through their words, through their ability to communicate humor through their jokes. Actors in movies deliver their lines by speaking to life their characters, the writer’s words.

Words have power.

[Short on time? Listen to my raw, unedited recording here instead.]

The other day I read an article about how literacy is declining. Now, I see these hot takes every so often, about how no one is reading books anymore, and how publishers are going to be out of business, etc. And before I started reading I thought, No way is this true.

But then the article reminded me of how when subways were once filled with people reading books, they’re now filled with heads bent over phones, scrolling visual content. Short videos and social media are elbowing long-form content like books out of humans’ minds. Ugh, I thought, what if they’re right?

I’m not going to get into the topic of social media and videos vs books today, but receiving this reminder made me consider the importance of what we novel-writers are trying to do, and the very importance of continuing our writing. Because we aren’t just doing it for the sake of money or fame or acclaim.

We are doing it for the world.

Yes, the world needs your book for the sake of literacy, but it needs it for so much more than that.

Let me say that again for the folks in the back who didn’t hear me. If something in your heart is niggling at you to write a book, it is your duty, your God-given responsibility, to pick up a pen and paper.

We are made of stories. Of experiences and thoughts and feelings unique to us. And it is our jobs to not stand on an island of our own making, but to share our lessons and our stories with the world. The power that I spoke about above—the power to connect us all together— it comes directly from answering the call. It comes from being brave enough to make your art, string your words together, and let your voice do the job it was meant to do.

Listen, not everyone on this earth feels compelled to write a book. Some people are happy to sculpt or paint or knit. Some are happy to help or connect with others through healing professions. And some people aren’t interested at all in giving back to the world and serving others—they just want to take and consume.

But I think you’re here because you have heard the call. Because there’s something in your heart that you want to say, or because you feel the draw to wield words like a sword or shield. Or because you want to be a light in the dark. That’s why I’m here too.

If you can relate, I just want to encourage you to keep going. That this hard thing of writing a book matters. It’s not silly. It’s not vapid or pointless or self-serving. In fact, I believe it’s the opposite. The act of creating something to share with the world serves the world. Someone out there needs your book to get them through a hard time, or to make them smile, or to remind them that they’re not alone, or to show them a better way of living.

If you’re feeling lost or discouraged in your writing, I want you to close your eyes and take five deep inhales and exhales as you remember why you are doing this. Remember how it feels to answer that call that is nudging you forward. Come back to this place and take the next step. Ignore the distractions and force yourself to show up. Getting started is the hardest part, but once you sit down and choose your writing, you’ll notice that confidence and motivation will show up too. Taking action will grow them both.

God created the world with his words. “Let there be light,” he said. And whether you are spiritual or not, the point here is that since the beginning, words have been creating things. And through our words, we too, create light to share with the world.

Writing is how we connect to the divine, certainly, but don’t forget it’s also how we connect with each other. It’s how we fight injustice or make others feel less alone. It’s how we surprise and delight. Give people the hope they so need right now.

So, again, answer the call. Remember: writing might not just be your hobby or your escape or your stress relief after a hard day (though it can of course be all of those things too!)…it might just be your job, your purpose here on this planet.

This is why you must write your story.

Offerings

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Thanks so much for being here with me. I value you and I sincerely hope that I provide value for your writing journey. If you feel inclined, drop me a line and let me know what you’re working on!

Happy Writing,

Karyn

P.S. Loving these emails? Buy me a cup of tea to say thanks. Or you can book a free 30-min story strategy chat here if you're interested in getting specific help with your book.

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Granite Bay, CA
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