Why We Write
By Amy Groening

A story came up the other day that once again affirmed to me the importance of writing—and how books can impact lives.

About four years ago, we published a book that had a big impact on one of the members of our sister company. He bought a copy, read it cover to cover, and then gave it to a friend of his who had lived a similar story. The friend read it once and enjoyed it. He put it on his book shelf, and there it sat for three and a half years. Then, just a few months ago, he came across that same book, sitting on his shelf, and felt compelled to re-read it. After re-reading it, he went out and bought copies to give to each of his children.

This is what we love about writing, and what makes book publishing so important. Once your book is in print, it has longevity, a certain level of permanence. A printed book can keep impacting the lives of your readers for years, ready to be read when it’s needed the most.

There are books I’ve started reading before I was ready to experience them, and books that have been given to me long before I wanted or needed to read them. This is why I rarely get rid of books I haven’t finished reading, even if I’ve left one for a three year hiatus while I forayed into some other literary realm. There are books that act as sleeper agents, sitting docilely in a corner until there’s a shift, a change in atmosphere or an unexpected event that suddenly makes that book mean so much more to you than it did when it first came to occupy your bookshelf.

There may be a message inside your book that will be just what your reader needs to hear…three years from now.

So, keep writing! Keep publishing! Keep sharing books with your readers. You never know where, when, or how your book could impact others.

About this Contributor:

Amy Groening is a project manager at Word Alive Press. She is a passionate storyteller with experience in blogging, newspaper reportage, and creative writing. She holds an Honours degree in English Literature and is happy to be working in an industry where she can see other writers’ dreams come to life. She enjoys many creative pursuits, including sewing, sculpture and painting, and spends an embarrassingly large amount of time at home taking photos of her cat committing random acts of feline crime.