Everyone's likely heard of JK Rowling, Stephanie Myer or Stephen King... these are the authors that often come to mind when people think of writing a book. "I'm not like them, I have no writing experience" is a common sentence said to justify you not taking the leap. Well, I'm here to tell you why you should go for it... from first-hand experience.

Writing a book
Here's a short overview of my background: I studied Sports Science at Loughborough University, I was a PE and Science teacher in an ordinary Secondary School, and the last time I wrote some form of creative writing was for my GCSE English language exam when I was sixteen. I also couldn't spell to save my life at school - still can't to be honest... And yet I have written two books to date and intend to continue writing.
Everyone has got a least one book in them, one story they need to tell the world. They just need belief and conviction.
Benefits of writing a book...
Number 1: Extra income
An obvious benefit of writing a book is royalties. When you publish a book, you get money every time someone buys a copy, whether that be a paperback, eBook or audio version. A lot of authors can make a nice side earning from it, and some can even turn it into a full-time job. That's not to say that everyone who writes a book will make loads of money, but it is possible. Just because you wrote a book doesn't mean it will become a best seller and make you millions, but even a couple of sales every month can add up over time.
Number 2: You'll ignite a passion
I never realised how much fun writing was until I started. At school, I hated essay writing (mainly because I was terrified of spelling mistakes), but now that I have Word spell-check and I can write about what I want, it's actually amazing. It gave me a sense of purpose during a time when I didn't really have much else going on in my life. During the lockdown, when I couldn't socialise, couldn't even leave my house, I channelled my creativity and life into my book, living through the characters I created. I know that sounds sad and you shouldn't just live through your characters, but it was exactly what I needed at that point in my life. The excitement and power you feel creating a whole new world cannot be given justice either. If you ever find yourself asking questions like what if this happened, or what would you do if... then your brain is naturally wired to be creative and writing is the perfect way to channel that curiosity into something lasting and amazing.
Number 3: You'll develop confidence
Before writing a book, I certainly didn't think I could ever even start a project so large. But now that I've finished it, I realise that all huge tasks can just be broken down into manageable chunks, chapters if you will, that are far less daunting. Since finishing my first book, which was longlisted for a national writing prize, I've started my second and I'm now planning a lot more ambitious ventures (such as video making, coding and website design). I would never have dared to try any of these if I hadn't first ticked off writing a book, as if I can do that, what's stopping me from doing any of the others? It has also given me a new sense of perspective. I've recently completed my Masters degree and had to write a 6000-word dissertation. That seemed like nothing compared to my 100,000-word book, so I went into it feeling far more confident than I would have without a novel under my belt.
Number 4: You'll develop perseverance
Before I wrote a book, I would never have thought I would have had the drive or willpower to stick to something for so long without any tangible reward to keep me motivated. My first book, SOLAR, ended up being 100,000 words. That's a lot of typing, editing and planning for just one thing. The beauty was, that it wasn't even half as bad as I thought it might be. In fact, it was actually really fun. It also helped me develop a routine and prove to myself that I could stick with something and actually finish, which is a skill I can translate into any daily task. If I could persevere with writing a book for a year, I can certainly tackle an assignment or maintain my fitness routine.
Number 5: You'll gain more knowledge
Writing a book requires research. No matter what you're writing about, you're going to need to research topics and facts for your story. This will make you a far more rounded and knowledgeable individual who has some very interesting trivia facts. My new book, Time Will Tell, is set in the year 2052 and is all about time travel. I therefore did a load of research on climate change predictions for 2050, future technologies and theoretical physics regarding anti-matter, Einstein-Rosen bridges and subatomic particles. For my first book, SOLAR, which is all about an asteroid heading towards Earth, I researched the most promising future methods for diverting asteroids and NEOs, along with the Mars missions, international scientific collaborations and the different psychological responses to disasters. I know for a fact that I'm a more interesting and knowledgeable person because of it, and that I will dominate at any pub trivia night if the topics of space travel, asteroid defence and time travel ever pop up!
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