From Jeff and Me to YOU (Everyone should write a book)

From Jeff and Me to YOU

(Everyone should write a book)

:-)

Everyone should write a book. Why?

Because it's hard. And everyone should do something hard at some point in their life. That's what shapes our character and makes us appreciate the things worth doing.

Because it'll humble you. Writing a book (which is hard) will make you see things in yourself — your writing, your worldview, your weird way of expressing ideas — that you didn't otherwise notice. 

Because it'll kill your cynicism. It'll give you a newfound respect for other authors and the work they do. In fact, if everyone became an author, we wouldn't have professional critics. Just a community of people who cared enough to speak up.

Because it'll teach you about yourself. Flannery O'Connor said she didn't know what she thought about something until she read what she said. I'm inclined to agree.

Because it's the best way to share an idea or story that matters. And if it matters to you, maybe it'll matter to others (no guarantee, though).

Because the book you write is better than the one you dream of writing. Most people have a dream of writing a book but never realize it. Not because they can't or don't know how, but because they're afraid. Because an unrealized dream is safer than an action that could fail.

Of course, not everyone WILL write a book. But you could. And maybe you should. 

Not so you can become a best-selling author or get heaps of praise. But so you can make something and share it with the world.

So you can say you did something hard, something that humbled you, that helped you care and become more self-aware, allowing you to share an important idea.

Because while there may be too much noise in this world, we can never have too many people who care.