The Unexpected Benefits of Being an Author
We all know the perks of being an author: flexible schedules, binge reading to give quotes for books and spending time on social media and calling it “work,” deciding to make a coffee shop or a park your office for the day… But there are a few unexpected benefits to being an author.
1. Friendship
Publishing a book often requires connections with other authors, publishers, editors, and literary professionals. If the author is open to being social, suddenly he/she finds a multitude of likeminded people who find it completely normal to reorganize bookshelves as a pastime or hang out in libraries every single day. I’ve met so many wonderful people both in person and online who cheer me on and lift me up. It’s been amazing to share a gift that can be so quiet with so many others who have the same appreciation of that gift.
2. Better Communication Skills
The process of expressing complex ideas in writing and navigating edits in a logical manner over and over improves an author’s general communication skills, both in writing and verbal expression. And we now notice with recoiling cringe and an inability to look away when people post on Facebook that they hope “Your well.”
3. Heightened Empathy
Authors delve into the deep emotions and experiences of their characters as well as those created by other authors in the books they read. We feel as though we’re with those characters, and we learn from them, which can improve both personal and professional relationships.
4. Better Sense of Reflection
The writing process requires deep introspection, which can lead to increased self-awareness. Writing a character only to have the editor point out an implied weakness or strength that the author hadn’t intended can teach the author about what they might not be able to see in themselves.
5. Amplified Creativity
Authors get to stretch their creative muscles and work them every day. Regularly exercising the imagination to create characters, worlds, and plots can lead to a wider creative view of everything in life. I definitely found this to be true, with my creativity expanding across all facets of publishing as well as in my personal life. I love to decorate, paint, explore genres of music…
The one thing I can say for certain is if you ever see that little girl staring out the window, her mind on everything but what is going on right beside her, she might just be training for her place in the creative world. Allow it. She will be better for it.
Until next time,
Jenny
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