is writing a book worth it

Is Writing A Book Worth It: What You Should Know

The idea of writing a book can be incredibly intimidating. It’s a massive commitment of time, money, and hefty self-doubt. But it can also be one of the most rewarding experiences. Is writing a book worth it? If you constantly ask yourself this question, then this article can help you decide whether you should write your book or not.

Reasons why you should write a book

Is writing a book worth it? Whether you’re an aspiring novelist or just curious about the benefits you can reap from the writing process, here are some reasons why it’s worth writing a book.

is writing a book worth it

1. You can use your expertise and experiences

A book is proof that you know what you’re talking about and have the ability to share your knowledge in an organized and thoughtful way. Is writing a book worth it?

Even if you don’t think of yourself as an expert, if you’ve gone through something—be it good or bad—and learned from it, that makes you a perfect candidate to write a book.

Writing a book can help you share stories, experiences, and tips with others meaningfully. Depending on the type of book you write, your readers could even turn to your first book for guidance on handling certain life situations.

As an author, you can be an inspiration for most people interested in learning about what you have to offer.

Published authors have used their careers to jump-start their writing careers.

If you’re a new author, you can use your expertise and experience to write a book.

The process of becoming a bestselling author is a great way to become more knowledgeable about your subject matter. You can also learn how to write your book more engagingly, which will help you create better content for your blog or other publications.

If you’re unsure where to begin, start writing with what you know.

If you have some experience in the industry, start by writing about that experience and the skills that you learned from it.

Then move on to more advanced topics, like how to write for your business website or how to promote your business online.

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2. Build thought leadership with a book

Thought leadership is the ability to influence, teach and guide others in your area of expertise. An author is a thought leader. It means that you have to be an expert in your field.

You have to know how to communicate that expertise so that readers can understand.

It’s not enough to publish a book. You also have to become an advocate for the work you’ve done–someone who can talk about it, write about it and inspire others with it.

Being an author is such an excellent tool for building thought leadership. Authoring a book forces you to think deeply about your subject matter, revisit it and find new ways to communicate it.

It may help you discover new ideas or make connections that weren’t previously apparent. Once published, a book enables you to demonstrate your knowledge and credibility as an expert.

Is penning a book worth it? The result will be more opportunities for speaking gigs, media interviews, and other professional engagements.

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3. Extend your reach with a book

Is creating a book worth it? Becoming a published author will expand your credibility, help you reach more people, and build your brand. A book can be the ultimate business card if you’re an entrepreneur.

It’s one thing to say that you know what you’re talking about—it’s another to have written a whole book about it.

Sitting down and putting together your thoughts in book form shows potential clients or customers that you know what you’re doing.

There are many ways to become an author. You can go the traditional route and get signed by a publishing house, self-publish on your own, or even publish with a partner who will invest in the process and sell the book for a profit.

A book can also help you reach more customers than any other marketing tool and strategy.

If potential customer picks up your book from their local bookstore, they’ve already told themselves that they’re at least somewhat interested in what you have to say. If they like what they find inside, the chances are good that they’ll buy whatever product or service you offer.

4. Answer the questions that keep you up at night

Writing helps you make sense of life.

Answering the questions that pop into your head removes those thoughts from random book idea sounds glamorous floating around in your brain and gives them a form and purpose, making them feel more real somehow.

It also gives life more meaning when you can take a step back and see the bigger picture of what’s happening.

Is writing a book worth it? If you write a book, you’ve got to have something on your mind. You’ve got to have questions that keep you up at night.

And if you write a book in the business world, those questions are probably related to your company’s success stories.

You want to know what works and what doesn’t and why.

Also, you want to understand how your product or service fits into your industry and how it can improve. Lastly, you want to uncover hidden strategies to help you succeed.

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5. Writing a book helps boost your creativity

Writing a book will help you think creatively. It’s an endeavor that can require you to be very creative, and it could even help you be more creative in your everyday life.

For example, if you write a book about a character struggling with a problem, you might have to be very creative to come up with a way for the character to solve the problem.

In another example, if you write a book in a fantasy world, you might have to be creative to come up with all the details about this fantasy world.

Even if what you are writing is not that complex, just having to make up stories can help boost your creativity.

By pushing yourself to create something new and unique, you’ll be able to use the skills you learn from writing to hone your creativity in all areas of your life.

Creating a book can also make you more creative, as brainstorming new ideas will become second nature to you.

Is writing a book worth it?

You’ll start noticing inspiration everywhere—on simple objects around your home, billboards while driving down the road, and even while out at a restaurant with friends!

Making a book can give you a new perspective on your own life and provide insight into how others live theirs.

6. It’s the perfect excuse to do research

Researching and writing about something you’re interested in or that matters to you is an excellent opportunity to take time out from your busy life to learn and grow. It can serve as its reward, even if you don’t ultimately choose to publish your work after all the effort that went into it.

Even if you don’t go through publishing process of a book, it’s still an accomplishment to finish writing one. Is writing a book worth it?

Completing the first novel is a great way to reach a personal goal, and the experience you gain will help you refine your creative process so that when it comes time to write books, you’ll have more confidence and know how best to use your time and energy.

Knowing more about whatever topic your book covers can help you become more knowledgeable in that area overall, which can be helpful in your daily life. Plus, when you’re invested in what you’re writing about, it makes for better content.

writing books

7. Earn extra income

Is writing a book worth it? Writing a book is worth it if you want to earn extra income. You can charge money for your book and make a profit if the right people read it.

It might be passive income, too. If you digitize your book and make it available on Kindle, you can sell books bestsellers while you sleep because Amazon will do all the work.

It’s possible to earn thousands of dollars per month from passive income as an author. With the advent of self-publishing, more individuals can get their work out there.

It’s no longer a question of whether you have a publisher’s support—it’s now possible to publish your book at a minimal cost and then reap the rewards.

If you’re thinking about creating a book, but are afraid of the time commitment, consider how much time you’re spending on other things that don’t earn you any money. Focus on what can get done within the same amount of time.

8. You can get more speaking engagements

Having a book gives you instant credibility as an expert. If you’re looking to land speaking engagements, your book will make it easier for people to see that you are qualified to speak on the topic. You’ll get more requests for interviews.

Is writing a book worth it? People who want to interview experts in your field will likely come to you when you have a book out. Your book allows you to share your story idea and expertise with others.

If you have a story or unique perspective that deserves to be shared with the world, to write a book is the best way to do it. You can share your story with thousands of people instead of just those who attend one of your talks or workshops. It’s a great way to get feedback.

9. It builds your network

One of the essential parts of creating a book is building a personal network of most people you know who can help you throughout the process. The more people you know, the more likely you will find a publisher interested in your work.

If you’re already a known personality in your field, it will be easier for you to sell your own book to publishers because they know that some people will buy it simply because of who wrote it.

However, if you haven’t built up any name recognition yet, it will be an uphill battle trying to make publishers take notice of your manuscript.

Is writing a book worth it? Even if you don’t have any name recognition or much of a personal network, it’s still possible to become published by writing something unique and different from what other people are doing.

Publishers are always on the lookout for fresh ideas and new perspectives, but they need to believe that your book has an audience before they’ll commit to publishing it. If you can show them that there’s a big market for your book, they’ll be more inclined to give it a chance.

10. You control the content

Perhaps the most compelling reason to write a book is to control the content. You can write about anything you want and tell the story in any way. Books are an excellent creative outlet for people who like to express themselves or share their ideas with others.

Is writing a book worth it? The best part about books is that they are authentic, tangible things. A book is an actual object you can hold in your hands, feel, and touch. It’s more than just pixels on a screen.

Creating a book is a dream come true for many people because they have always wanted to do it. A deep sense of satisfaction comes from crossing “write a book” off your bucket list and holding your books published in your hands.

11. It’s easier than ever to publish a book

Publishing your book is more accessible than ever. While there are a few options for publishing a book, the one that has made it much easier and cheaper to publish is self-publishing.

Is writing a book worth it? It allows individuals to write their manuscripts and have them published without having to go through traditional publishing houses and meet with multiple professional editors in hopes of getting a contract.

There are online platforms that make it easy for you to upload your manuscript and allow you to format it into an e-book or paperback, which you can sell on various websites and bookstores across the country.

Several of these platforms are free, minus the cost of printing your book.

Self-publishing also allows you to choose everything about your book—from its book cover design to its font and layout inside and what websites are selling it.

Although traditional publishers often offer their authors a higher percentage of royalties, they may not offer much creative control over the end product.

If you don’t want to give up creative control of your work, a self published book is undoubtedly the way.

Qualities of an excellent author

is writing a book worth it

Is writing a book worth it? Yes, is the inevitable answer. If you’ve ever felt stuck while trying to write, it might be because you haven’t cultivated the proper habits yet.

And if that’s the case, you may not realize that writers who do their craft well have certain qualities in common. Here are some of the traits of authors who excel at their work.

1. Good writing skills

Is making a book worth it? If you have the time commitment to writing well, then the inevitable answer is yes. Writing is a skill that is learned, not innate. All writing involves the use of proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

A great writer can communicate their ideas clearly and concisely, and you understand what they are trying to say.

Excellent writers have a command of their language and can express themselves precisely. They have an extensive vocabulary and know how to spell their words.

A good writer doesn’t have a lot of errors in their actual writing.

They also write in complete sentences so we can understand what they are trying to say.

Some people are naturally gifted writers, but most writers have had to learn their craft by reading their favorite books, practicing, and getting feedback from others before they can become great writers.

2. The ability to accept criticism

One of the essential skills an author can have is the ability to take criticism.

There will always be someone who feels differently than you, even slightly. It’s not personal, and sometimes that person is right.

Even if they’re not, the fact that they feel the way they do means that there could be a whole sector of readers who feel the same. If you’re too defensive about your work, you’ll never know what can be improved.

And it’s not just about accepting criticism—it’s about embracing it. Is making a book worth it?

Every opportunity to incorporate feedback is a chance to improve your book and reach more readers, so use those opportunities as often and broadly as possible.

3. Confidence to write in front of others

The ability to write in front of others is a quality that all first time authors and bestselling authors should have. When you’re writing in front of a crowd, you need to handle the pressure of the situation and perform at your best. 

If you do not have this ability, it may result in your writing being affected negatively. It can be a problem because you will have to deal with criticism from people who are unfamiliar with your work or might even criticize it simply because they do not like it.

Is writing a book worth it?

Yes. However, you should be confident.

As an author, you must have confidence in yourself and your ability to write well-structured, exciting articles. A lack of self-confidence will prevent you from success as an author, especially if you are new to the field.

When writing in front of a crowd, make sure you express yourself confidently and clearly so that people can understand what you are trying to say.

You should not be afraid to speak up if something does not sound right or if someone does not agree with something you said in your book.

4. Good imagination and creativity

Imagination and creativity are the heart of writing. Imagination is the ability to think about things that are not real and come up with ideas and concepts that don’t exist in the real world.

Creativity is putting those imaginary ideas together in an original way, like building a sculpture from clay or a story from words.

To write well, you must have a good imagination and be creative. Is creating a book worth it? It is if you have the heart for creativity.

You can keep your mind open to new experiences and new information—you never know when something will spark your interest!

You can also read other people’s writing to help inspire your own; try picking something you haven’t read before to keep it fresh.

Lastly, you might be surprised at how much a different style or topic can influence your work.

Frequently asked questions

writing a book

Is writing a book worth it? Here are the answers to some of your questions.

How long does it take to write a book?

Writing a novel takes time. But most authors can write some novels more quickly than others.

Consider the difference between writing a 400-page novel with lots of characters and plot threads and writing a 100-page novel where there’s only one character, no subplots, and not much happens.

If you’re going for 100 pages, you might be able to finish in three months if you’re typing faster than 40 words per minute on your keyboard and you’re single-mindedly focused on finishing that writing project.

On the other hand, if you’re going for 400 pages, it will probably take at least a year if you’re writing faster than 40 words per minute and focusing solely on that project.

How many pages are in an average book?

The average length of a non fiction book is about 60,000 words or 226 pages. The average length of most fiction books is between 80,000 and 100,000 words or about 300-400 pages.

Most publishers limit a book’s length to their genre or category.

For example, some publishers will not accept a manuscript under 60k words because they feel it’s too short for a novel; other publishers might not accept anything over 100k words because they think it’s too long for the specific genre.

Is it better to self-publish or find a traditional publisher?

Self-publishing gives you complete control over every aspect of your book—from the title to the cover design to the content.

But self-publishing also requires you to do all the hard work yourself or hire others to do it for you.

If you choose self-publishing, consider hiring a freelance editor to help you with your manuscript and a cover designer to ensure your cover is eye-catching.

Traditional publishing takes longer but can be more rewarding in terms of distribution.

Traditional publishers have relationships with retailers like Barnes & Noble and Amazon, so they can get your book into physical stores and onto e-readers more quickly than if you are self-published.

However, if a traditional publisher publishes you, they will decide on your book’s title and cover design, how many copies to print, and where you should distribute it. You’ll also be paid royalties from good book sales instead of making 100% of the profit from all book sales.

Final words

Many people will never write a book but spend most of their lives thinking about it. While the actual process of creative writing a book is a significant undertaking and can be daunting, the idea of being an author can be rewarding for many different reasons. Is writing a book worth it?

If you’ve been wondering whether making a book is worth it, consider your motivation and decide whether you have what it takes to follow through on your dream. With the right inspiration, writing will definitely be worth it. 

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