Why Do You Write?
Lessons from Meet the Author Day
My favorite time of year (other than Christmas), is "Meet the Author Day" at local schools. I was honored to receive two invitations to visit schools this year. And I do mean honored because I consider it a great honor to meet my target audience with hopes of inspiring them.
Yes, I want to sell my books, too, but the main purpose of my visit is to inspire them to keep working toward their goals.
Why Did You Write a Book?
That's typically the first of many questions I am asked by students when I visit their school. I love it because they have seen many books before I walk through the door. They have a library filled with various books, and so they want to know why I wrote a book.
"Because I have a story to tell!" I usually answer. I also explain that I am an artist, and why do artists paint? Why do singers sing? Why do actors act?
For the same reason writers write: To be known!
We paint, sing, draw, act, and write to be seen, read, and heard. There's nothing better than having your work recognized and acknowledged. It's a terrific feeling!
"Do you make any money from your books?" another student typically asks.
I chuckle because that is the dream, isn't it? All authors secretly want to be the next J.K. Rowling, James Patterson, or Rick Riordin. But the truth is we probably won't be able to quit our day jobs anytime soon. And that's okay with me. To answer this student's question, I begin by describing an email I received after a school visit last year.
I had visited a small local school where some students had pre-ordered my books and, after I delivered the books to the school, the librarian was kind enough to send me an email.
"THANK YOU, RUTH! Allen was absolutely thrilled to get the books during Library this morning. The other kids were so excited, they checked out all of your books!"
I smile every time I read that email because it exemplifies why I write. The fact that children are excited to read a story I wrote is payment enough for me.
I shared the email with the students last week. "That..." I pointed to it. "That right there is why I write."
The students smile. They seem to understand, but I know they won't fully understand until they write something, or sing something, or draw something, or act in something that makes someone smile, or be thrilled, or become excited. That's truly the only way anyone can know why we do something with our art.
And so, I go on to explain how I write a book, how teachers from my past inspired me, and how I deal with the rejections. I do this to encourage them to keep working toward their goals until they see their dreams come true.
I love to give out my drawings to those students and I love to donate my books to their school library. I love it because that's why I do what I do. They are the reason I get in front of my computer and knock out that next story, even when I don't want to. I have to! It's difficult work at times, but worth it. Isn't it?
So...why do you write?
My favorite time of year (other than Christmas), is "Meet the Author Day" at local schools. I was honored to receive two invitations to visit schools this year. And I do mean honored because I consider it a great honor to meet my target audience with hopes of inspiring them.
Yes, I want to sell my books, too, but the main purpose of my visit is to inspire them to keep working toward their goals.
Why Did You Write a Book?
That's typically the first of many questions I am asked by students when I visit their school. I love it because they have seen many books before I walk through the door. They have a library filled with various books, and so they want to know why I wrote a book.
"Because I have a story to tell!" I usually answer. I also explain that I am an artist, and why do artists paint? Why do singers sing? Why do actors act?
For the same reason writers write: To be known!
We paint, sing, draw, act, and write to be seen, read, and heard. There's nothing better than having your work recognized and acknowledged. It's a terrific feeling!
"Do you make any money from your books?" another student typically asks.
I chuckle because that is the dream, isn't it? All authors secretly want to be the next J.K. Rowling, James Patterson, or Rick Riordin. But the truth is we probably won't be able to quit our day jobs anytime soon. And that's okay with me. To answer this student's question, I begin by describing an email I received after a school visit last year.
I had visited a small local school where some students had pre-ordered my books and, after I delivered the books to the school, the librarian was kind enough to send me an email.
"THANK YOU, RUTH! Allen was absolutely thrilled to get the books during Library this morning. The other kids were so excited, they checked out all of your books!"
I smile every time I read that email because it exemplifies why I write. The fact that children are excited to read a story I wrote is payment enough for me.
I shared the email with the students last week. "That..." I pointed to it. "That right there is why I write."
The students smile. They seem to understand, but I know they won't fully understand until they write something, or sing something, or draw something, or act in something that makes someone smile, or be thrilled, or become excited. That's truly the only way anyone can know why we do something with our art.
And so, I go on to explain how I write a book, how teachers from my past inspired me, and how I deal with the rejections. I do this to encourage them to keep working toward their goals until they see their dreams come true.
I love to give out my drawings to those students and I love to donate my books to their school library. I love it because that's why I do what I do. They are the reason I get in front of my computer and knock out that next story, even when I don't want to. I have to! It's difficult work at times, but worth it. Isn't it?
So...why do you write?
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