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Reviewed by Joe Wisinski for Readers' Favorite
In Your Writing Matters: How to Banish Self-Doubt, Trust Yourself, and Go the Distance, author Colleen M. Story discusses the topic of why people choose to be writers. She tackles the issues most new or potential writers face—should I even bother doing this? Do I have what it takes to be a writer? Will I reach my writing goals and dreams? Story recognizes that money and fame are two motivations for writing, but says writers should move beyond those incentives. She also acknowledges that other people may minimize the value of your writing because, in their eyes, you’re not “really a writer” if you’re not what they view as successful. Their lack of understanding and encouragement may make new writers doubt themselves. Finally, Story writes about the lesser-known and lesser-understood benefits of being a writer, whatever your skill and “success” level. Story is both a writing coach and a professional writer herself.
Your Writing Matters is not another “Do you have what it takes to be a writer?” book. It’s more a “You do have what it takes to be a writer” book. Author Colleen Story encourages writers and potential writers every step of the way. I wish I’d been able to read this book when I was a beginning writer 40 years ago. It would have helped me vanquish my self-doubts, ignore naysayers, and encouraged me to develop the craft of writing. A valuable part of the book is a “quiz” that examines how readers feel about writing, e.g., “should [I] be doing something else with my time and talents?” The aptly named Story helps writers crystalize the reasons why they’re writing. (Samuel Johnson, who reportedly said, “No man but a blockhead ever wrote except for money” was wrong. If you didn’t know that before reading this book you surely will afterward.) Story writes about the elusiveness of earning money or fame by writing. Rather, influencing others is a more realistic and attainable goal. I don’t know if Story has any psychological training, but she possesses keen insight into people’s minds, especially into writers’ thinking. I recommend this book to all writers, experienced, new, and wannabe.
