Why Your Purpose Matters in Writing

Whether you’re writing a book or a blog post, purpose is a powerful motivator

What’s the purpose for your writing?

Have you thought about it lately, or are you stuck in the daily demands of hitting deadlines and building readership? It’s easy to lose sight of a long-term goal when you’re swamped in details.

Take a moment to think about your broader purpose for writing. What impact do you hope to make?

Join the Pack of Purposeful Writers

This past summer, I conducted a survey of nonfiction authors. Two survey questions asked about people’s motivations for writing their books.

People could choose from the following objectives:

• Personal goal: I’ve always wanted to write a book
• Business goal: I want to build my business
• Career goal: I want to make myself more marketable
• Purpose: I want to serve others with what I know
• Fame and fortune: I’d like to be a best-selling author
• Personal fulfillment: I really want to share this story/idea
• Other