What is My WHY?
Knowing your WHY is the secret to success. As an aspiring author, this is especially true. There's a lot of time and energy put into crafting the perfect plot, developing characters, and writing a compelling story that resonates with you and with readers. When you don't have a clear sense of why being an author is meaningful to you, it's easy to start and then abandon the work in progress, dragging it out for years without completion.
I've always had a passion for storytelling. As a child, I'd squirrel away in my mind, creating worlds and scenarios, and circumstances to entertain myself. I had a boundless imagination. So much so, the adults in my life often accused me of daydreaming. What they didn't know is that the inner worlds I created and lived in helped me make sense of the world around me. And with that came a sense of calm because I could create any story I wanted and build it in a world filled with excitement, intrigue, romance, adventure and danger!
Even with my "daydreaming," I was an honor roll student. School came easy (I was a rule follower) and the harsh reality was I was often bored. Not to mention, I carried a certain shyness about myself, making it hard to get close to others and develop meaningful relationships. Later on, I learned that this was a fear of rejection. But all my 10-year-old self knew was the outside world was a scary place and others may not accept me for who I am.
I overcame these fears through the characters in my head. I used them to speak about my hopes, my dreams, my fears and to be the hero in my story! And since I always love a little drama, from time to time I would switch the narrative and be the damsel in distress, rescued by a handsome warrior.
With each storytelling adventure, I changed the narrative of the negative stories I told myself about not being good enough, strong enough, or likable enough. In the worlds I built, I could be any gender I chose. I could love or be friends with anyone without fear of judgement or rejection. I could be as melancholy or as joyous as my heart desired without someone constantly asking me, "What's wrong?" Or making me feel bad about myself.
Then one day the magic happened. My older sister gave me a diary with a lock and key!
"This is a place you can write all your thoughts," she said, "and keep track of all the stories in your head." I was hesitant about writing it all down. But she encouraged me with "Only you and God know the contents of your diary, unless you choose to share."
My sister's encouragement inspired a new creative outlet. I couldn't sing. I couldn't dance. But I could tell stories. And with my new diary, I now had a "secret" place to write and share my work - even if I only shared the stories with God! I cannot count the number of diaries and journals I've kept and lost throughout the years. But I'm so grateful for the first seeds of encouragement to write that my sister gave me so long ago.
My transformation from writer to aspiring author began when my other sister gifted me a leather-bound journal for a special birthday. The journal featured a quote from William Faulkner: "If a story is in you, it has to come out." This motivational quote refueled my passion as I completed the first draft of my novel.
It's been many years between my 10-year-old self and the woman I am today. In moments of recent self-reflection, I've asked myself—why do I continue to write? What is my reason for being an aspiring author?
As a child, my "why" was a selfish way to survive in a somewhat scary and often unkind world. I drifted away from that why as I came into peace with my inner self. Now, I just want to share my stories and be an inspiration to others. And along the way, entertain readers with characters and situations that feel familiar with a satisfying outcome. I enjoy writing romantic suspense thrillers for an older generation. After a lifetime of setbacks and bittersweet moments, it's nice for us to experience fresh perspectives on love—together.
With Peace, Love and Happiness
– EK Rose
