Tina Haapala, Excuse Editor

This past weekend I attended a great writing workshop in Norman, OK (sponsored by the Pioneer Library System ). I was fired up by all of the speakers, including Rilla Askew and Mel Odom (I missed the songwriting and poetry workshop by Nathan Brown , but I have a friend who has notes!), but the day started out with the inspiring bestselling author, William Bernhardt. My ears perked up when he started to talk about the importance of storytelling, because I knew that the next Excuse Editor blog post had to do with that subject. Mr. Bernhardt reminded us of Harriet Beecher Stowe, the author of Uncle Tom's Cabin . By telling an emotional story about the problem of slavery, Stowe's book fueled the opposition to the practice, and to the South. Legend has it when President Lincoln met Stowe, he said, "So this is the little lady who wrote the book that started this great war." What if Stowe would have stayed silent? Lesson Four: Your Writing Matters In " The H...

  Image: Simon Howden/Free DigitalPhotos.net   Many writers will say that they are driven to write, they really don't have a choice. Then there are those writers who really want to earn the title of Writer, even before they've started their first project, because the Title holds special meaning for them. If you haven't yet, maybe it is time to look at the reasons why you should be a writer. Today, we'll start with the positive.   You should be a Writer because (the "Pros" list): There's Something Missing--Your Writing Fills a Gap A popular writer's quote is, "You must write the book you want to read." You believe your writing is going to fill a void and that you have something to add to the current conversation. You begin writing to experience that creative rush, and the feeling that you are adding something new to the world. The Benefits of Writing Your writing will fulfill some need you have, or a few needs. Journal wr...