Newsflash: being a writer is pretty great. I know I’ve written in the past about writers’ tendency to have gloomy lives filled with turmoil and mental anguish, but let’s explore the flipside of that, shall we? Because being a creative person definitely has its upsides. I can think of plenty of reasons to become a writer . . . Not that people choose this path out of the blue or anything. Like teachers or doctors, writers often feel called to what we do. But if you’re considering a path in writing—or you wonder why people choose to write professionally—here are some of the many reasons to become a writer . . .
21 Reasons to Become a Writer
1. Writers Are Never Bored
Our minds are like beautiful gardens, chaotic festivals, and cozy coffee shops filled with interesting people all at the same time. Writers’ brains are never boring, and we always have something to do. If we’re not brainstorming or writing a scene in our heads, we’re probably people watching.
2. People Immediately Find Us Fascinating
Maybe it sounds egotistical, but people like befriending, talking to, and studying writers. I mean, I get the appeal. I love chatting with other writers too. We’re eclectic people with countless opinions. We’re a delight to talk to, and somehow we innately understand people on a deep level. Both friends and total strangers seem to recognize that writers are a fount of interesting ideas.
3. We’re a Magnet for Other Creative People
One of my favorite reasons to become a writer is that creative energy attracts creative people. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve struck up a random conversation or sat next to a total stranger only to find out that they also write books. I don’t know what it is, but writers always find each other. And in my experience, these encounters are pleasant ones.
4. Writers Are Likely to Be Book Snobs
You can debate me on whether this is a good thing, but it’s undeniable: writers have high standards for books. On one hand, this makes reading really frustrating because there are so many poorly written published books. On the other hand, it’s comforting that getting published isn’t as impossible as people might think. Also, explaining exactly why you hate a book is a great conversation starter. I’m just saying.
5. Writers Truly Appreciate a Good Story
On the flipside of book snobbery, when we do encounter an incredible read, it can be a transcendent experience. Writers appreciate skilled storytelling more than anyone because we know what kind of work, intelligence, and flair it takes to write something wonderful. We see the complexity and all the passion. And we love it.
6. People Ask Us for Book Recommendations
Because we have such great taste in books—and are known for being well-read and opinionated—we can produce stellar book recs off the top of our heads. Hitting up writer friends for good things to read is a mutually beneficial exercise. We’re often DYING to discuss our favorite books with someone.
7. Writers Rewrite Unsatisfying Endings in our Heads
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve reached the end of a book or the end of a TV show and hated how it ended. Or felt robbed. While other people simply swallow their disappointment, I am a writer. And this means that I cope with bad endings by writing a better one in my head. This is a powerful source of solace.
8. Writing Makes You Smarter
Truly. Writing is like yoga for your brain. You have to think through a lot of nuances to tell a story, and you must become a master at syntax and expression. It’s no coincidence that children who excel at writing also tend to be good at math. If you need good reasons to become a writer, just know that writing and also journaling are a mental workout with proven long-term benefits.
9. We Become the Go-To Friend to Write Random Crap
Maybe this one is a curse instead of a blessing, but there’s something to be said for being “that friend” who writes well. You are automatically the magical superhero who people come to for just the right phrase. Or a clever description. Or a cute parody or bio or catchy flyer copy for your local bake sale. These situations may sound superfluous, but these are the everyday contributions of a writer to the community.
10. Writers Develop Unparalleled Problem-Solving Skills
Part of being a storyteller is not just inventing tricky situations and horrifying dilemmas. It’s getting your characters back out of them. Learning how to solve the problems you create is an endlessly difficult pursuit, but it’s also a powerful exercise in problem-solving. This is the stuff writers were made for.
11. You Can Make Good Money by Writing . . .
While it’s true that fiction writers rarely make big bucks, it’s not uncommon for writers to make a decent living. I bought my own home thanks to my copywriting career, and if you’re a decent technical writer, you have a shot at a six-figure salary. Not enough people know this.
12. Writing Skills Will Benefit You in Literally Any Job
Even if writing isn’t your primary job role, knowing how to write and communicate well is an enviable life skill no matter what you do. My computer scientist dad says that a successful STEM graduate student with strong writing skills is so exceptionally rare that such a candidate is automatically the best in their field.
13. Writers Savor Beautiful Words like Fine Wine
Books aren’t the only thing writers naturally appreciate. Sometimes we stumble across a gorgeously written sentence. Or hear someone utter a well-worded phrase. Or hear a beautiful, perfectly descriptive word for the first time. As writers, we pause our busy lives and feel these words in our souls. It’s a joy of life that non-writers just don’t understand.
14. If You’re a Control Freak, Writing is a Healthy Outlet
Does this reason to become a writer need further explanation? I myself am a control freak who struggles with the unpredictability of life. I understand firsthand how comforting it can be to outline a story exactly to your liking, bring it to life, and always have the opportunity to revisit it and make it better. This hobby is a huge, fluffy security blanket for an anxious person like me.
15. We Have a Special Bond with Those Who Adore Our Work
It’s hard to describe the euphoria that writers experience when someone else reads our work and wants to talk about it. Not just to tell us “it’s good,” but to really talk about our characters and fantasy worlds and plots. The bond between a writer and a friend who’s read their yet-to-be-published work is truly priceless.
16. We Always Have an Excuse to Bow Out of Plans
And an excuse that doesn’t sound lame: “Hello, yes? . . . The concert tickets are for tonight—like two hours from now? . . . Well, that sounds fun, but I’m actually right in the middle of working on my book. I’m on a roll! Can’t stop now.” If you’re an introvert who writes, you know what I’m talking about.
17. Writing Can Be Deeply Therapeutic
Us writers don’t always realize when we’re grappling with personal issues in the pages of our novel. But sometimes we do revisit painful life events or try to rewrite a personal tragedy through our work. If you need more reasons become a writer, just know that writing books is WAY cheaper than therapy.
18. Writers Can Work Wherever and Whenever We Choose
The flexibility of writing as a profession is amazing. Ideas can strike you anywhere, and there are no set rules for cataloging story ideas, planning (or not planning) out a book, or producing word count. Once writers figure out their process, the only limits we have to work around are our own time constraints. This is an incredibly flexible line of work.
19. We Learn a Lot of Random Stuff
Writing is a fantastic excuse to research the uncanny, the weird, and the completely random. I myself have needed to research world history, how to make soap, how to cauterize an amputated limb, Medieval textiles, and Latin translation. And those topics were all for one book. This slew of random information can feel like brain clutter, but it’s also fun to know a tiny bit about many topics, especially at dinner parties.
20. Writers Bring Meaning to the World
In stark contrast to all the random factoids we pick up, writing can also be one of the most meaningful pursuits there is. We connect more deeply with ourselves by writing, but we also connect with others. Sharing our inner worlds is a scary experience, but it’s also thrilling to be seen. Even fiction can explore what it means to be human—and share that experience with the world. At its core, writing is about connection, which is why stories matter.
21. Oh Yeah—and Writing Is Fun
Because it is! Have you ever wanted to travel to Ancient Egypt? Or become a private investigator? Have the ability to read minds or hop dimensions? Writing is the ultimate exercise in wish fulfillment, which is why even people who don’t consider themselves writers still think about writing a book someday. Writing is one of the most difficult, adventurous, and fulfilling pursuits anyone can take on. But it also makes you feel alive. So if you need reasons to become a writer, take it from me that writing is worth it. ❧
