Why Write?

When asked, “Why should people write a book?” I think the answer is simple. 

Writing our stories, in many ways, reinforces the truth that our stories matter.

When people ask me where to begin when it comes to writing a book, I simply answer, “Begin with you.” An author once told me to focus on writing the stories that only I can tell. This doesn’t mean every book has to be a personal memoir; still, every book that I write is unique to me because a part of my story is imparted in all of them. 

“What’s my story?” you ask. Your story makes you you, and often, these aren’t the fluffy and fun things we’re quick to tell others. Our stories are usually shaped by heartbreak, tragedy, trauma, and experiences we’d rather not have experienced. Still, because we have experienced them and survived to tell the tale, we are now in a powerful position to share stories that matter. 

In a way, writing and sharing our stories brings closure. They let us know that the pain, trauma, and tragedy were worth it. It’s not us, alone in our room, writhing in pain and despair, but rather us, with the world at our fingertips, reminding ourselves with every written word that pain has a purpose--and not just a purpose for us but others.

Scripture stamps this fact. Revelation 12:11 says, “They triumphed over him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.”

In the end, 50% of our victory over the enemy comes from the “word of [our] testimony.” “Word” in Revelation 12:11 is the original Greek word logos. If you remember from school, logos is one of the strategies a writer can use when persuading their audience. The technique and success of logos are based on fact and a well-rounded argument. What better facts do we have to share than God’s Word? What better argument can be made than what we’ve experienced in our own lives?

In the context of Revelation 12, logos simply means “of speech” or “a word.” “Testimony” refers to “a testifying” or “one who testifies before a judge.” Therefore, the word of our testimony is spoken or written, testifying what God has done in our lives. In the simplest terms: “I used to be this way, but now I’m this way.”

When we share this story with others, we remind ourselves that we have victory over the enemy, the past, pain, and heartbreak because of what Jesus has done. The blood of the Lamb washed the slate clean, and the word of our testimony reminds us and others of the new reality we now experience as believers in Jesus. In this way, we overcome any obstacle that the enemy throws our way because we know two things to be true: There is power in the blood of Jesus, and there is power in the words we speak. 

So, why write a book? To live in freedom daily. To make the moments that hurt you the most matter. To not waste an opportunity for God to turn a broken situation into a beautiful testimony of His grace and faithfulness. To remind yourself and others that, at the end of the day, we have victory over the enemy because of what Jesus did on the cross.

If any of that sounds enticing, you may just be ready to be an author. 

All Scriptures are from the New International Version unless otherwise stated.

All word studies are performed through Blue Letter Bible unless otherwise stated.