Tina Haapala, Excuse Editor

We're all works under construction “Live fearlessly!” Sounds great, doesn’t it? Until you actually try living that way. Your common sense gets in the way— Well, I must be scared of some things, like driving too fast or stray dogs, right? Or you basically fear what living fearlessly might LOOK like: What will they think of me if I shake my ass in Zumba? These kinds of debates have been playing themselves out in my head for the past year, as I’ve been working on my memoir. Can I "Write Fearlessly?" I felt great in the beginning. I’d discovered a way to work, a type of flexible outlining Brook Warner calls “ scaffolding ” that seemed to set me out in the right direction—yes, direction! I suddenly had one. Great! On to writing. I knew the story. I mapped out the scenes. But, I suppose it is similar to the Cheryl Strayed’s Wild journey—we both knew we were a bit out of our element, but until we run splat into obstacles, we didn’t know how scary it would be.

  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...