Rach asked Michelle Obama:

When did you decide to write the memoir, and how did you motivate yourself to keep writing?

Michelle Obama You know, I think it’s expected that a First Lady will write a book after her time in the White House. I started considering it during my time there, even spending some time recording my memories in real time. But somewhere along the line, and I’m not sure exactly when, I decided that I didn’t want to write a memoir just because it was expected of me—I wanted it to be something I was excited about doing, something that felt personal to me.

So I started to think about the kind of book I’d like to write, and more than anything else, I decided I wanted to contribute something that people could apply in their own lives. Because if I wasn’t going to do that, what’s the point of writing a book at all? Over the many months of the writing process, that’s the sentiment that kept me motivated. And that’s why I’ve been so overwhelmed by the response to my memoir—my interactions with readers have been so positive and meaningful. It’s been more than I ever could have imagined.

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