Ask An Author #3: Let's Get Real

Due to how busy my schedule is this week,my video blogwill be postponed, but please do check out those currently up and subscribe for more in the future! If you do you'll notice that 'Ask An Author #3' is missing. That's because I'll cover the topic to fill that gap here.I'm often asked'E, why do you write?'1. I have a talent and I feel I should use it2. It's something I enjoy and feel passionate about3. I have something to tell the world/ a message4. I write to entertain people5. I write to become known and popular6. Personal therapy7. To satisfy the control freak in me8. Money9. Personal development10. Connecting with others and meeting new peopleOf courseI will go into more detail! Are you kidding?1. I have a talent - I believe that we all have a talent. For some this is baking or painting. For me, it's writing and telling stories. I'm not a religious person but a part of me hopes we all have our talents for a reason. By this, I mean that I'd like my stories to reach someone who needs them, and my words help them in some way. So far I write fantasy and post-apocalyptic fiction, but I do this for a reason. Please check out my mission statement on the 'Author' segment of my home page.2. I enjoy it - Writing is how I relax and entertain myself when I'm not reading. I find it calming, but I also love to see how others have mastered their writing talent. It's a passion of mine, like some collect stamps or play a sport. It's not just my hobby but a future aspiration, which makes it one of the most important things in my life.3. I'm sharing a message - If you did read my mission statement you'll know I believe in making the world a better place and not through the usual expected means of fixing our planet's problems. All my books so far have followed a theme that there is nothing wrong with our planet, only with us. I want others to hear about the consequences of our actions through my stories, however bold and unusual they turn out. In Finding Pandora, human curiosity and greed kills Earth. Religion and community saves us (The Recruit, an alliance of all religions and spiritual people in the world who beg God for a second chance. He gives us Haeylo, a new planet, until Earth has healed). In Aeon Infinitum, an alien race deem us untrustworthy and arrive to help the planet recover from the human race. War and playing God kills Earth. Survivors, having learned their lessons and the truth, put it together again.4. To entertain - who doesn't love a good story? As kids I think that books stay with you and imprint. We remember certain characters or stories because we relate to them and they teach us something. I want to be the teacher now that I have been blessed with the knowledge. I feel it's my turn to provide for others like my favourite authors provided for me.5. Popularity - This can be a difficult subject for some people. For me, not so much, probably because I have never been 'popular', so I have no fear of losing it. Most of the time my head was in a book or in my study and it paid off, putting me in the position I'm in now. Lucky and happy. Still, as an author I can't lie. To say I don't want people to know my name would be a big one, so I'll be honest and admit I'd love to hear from my readers - love my book, my protagonist, my story, my world? Good. I want to know! Who wouldn't?6. Therapy - I'm not crazy although my friends might disagree and laugh. By therapy, I mean I write to empty my head and get all my ideas and thoughts down. I can share my emotions and my stresses through the stories I tell and resolve them externally. I'm an anxious person (as you will know if you have read either of my guest posts on the Anxious Bookaholic blog). I like to keep as calm and organised as I can to reduce my anxiety and writing, be it a list, a poem, a story or a journal entry, helps.7. I'm a control freak - This is true. I like to be in control of my life and now that I'm a writer I can be in control of an entire world. I can ensure all my characters have a purpose, a goal, resolve their problems, deal with relationships, deal with enemies etc. Being an indie/ self-published author I also control what happens after I write the book, which is a bonus.8. Money- Writing a book is not going to make me millions (unless I'm very lucky and I up my game. Still, if you want to buy my book, the royalties will buy me a Starbucks which I can use to fuel further books, so it's all good!). However, it's nice to see a little money coming in for my efforts- this makes us feel validated as authors, like any self-employed person or small business. Every little helps and Rome wasn't built in a day.9. Personal development - I write in my journal every day to see what progress I have made toward becoming a successful author. Each day I note down what I have done to better my career or my work and I reflect on that with a friend who decides if it's enough. If on days when I feel low and less motivated I turn to some of those pages, the progress proves it's worth the stress and hard work. I note my positive feedback, nice reviews and increase in followers so I can watch myself grow on the page.10. Connecting - Joining Facebook and Goodreads groups and communicating with others as an author is beneficial for me and for them. We can exchange tips, technique, review one another's work (honestly!) and gain some interest and sales, maybe. We can up our following and keep in touch with our new favourite authors and what they are writing next. It's a great way to get the work out and receive recommendations.So that's it everyone, a real, honest answer to an awful question. Why do you write?E. Rachael HardcastleCheck out my new book here! - Also available in US and other territories.