Should I Write If No One Will Read it?

Should I write if no one will read it?

This is a question that many writers ask themselves, me included. Sometimes it’s easy to get discouraged, especially if sales aren’t good or there aren’t any reviews coming in. However, even though I’ve felt like throwing in the towel a few times, I know I could never quit writing entirely. It is just something I do. It is as much a part of my life as breathing.

I came across an article written by Caran Janzen in Fellowscript Magazine that addresses this very issue with some very wise insights. I quote her here with permission.

1. Writing can be an act of worship. We can rejoice “in what God is working in and through us–regardless of the outcome.”
2. Writing is an act of creativity that brings joy and satisfaction. “Would you take a pottery class only to be disappointed if your finished works weren’t showcased in a swanky art shop?… feel joy from the creative act itself.”
3. Writing can bring mental and emotional clarity and healing. “Writing is deeply cathartic” and “helps most people find healing and peace.”
4. Writing develops our God-given gifts, and He calls us to steward the gifts He’s given us. “An infant doesn’t begin by walking… When you step out in faith to develop the creative gifts you’ve been given, your Heavenly Father is pleased.”

I appreciated the encouragement and wise advice Caran shared. Here are some final thoughts:

“Do you feel compelled to write? If so, step out in faith and trust that your writing can be an instrument of worship and praise. Step into joy as you create something from nothing. Step into healing and peace as you explore your life experiences. Step out in boldness fanning into flame the creative gift God has given you.”

(Caran Janzen, FellowScript Magazine, August 2021, page 12)

Caran Janzen’s website. 

Check out some other treasures from Caran Janzen!

Grow, Cook. Eat. Share. A Memoir chronicles her family’s homesteading adventures.