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There may not be as many reasons to write as there are writers, but there are several.
We may write to educate our readers, entertain them, or encourage them.
At times we may write to do all three.
Some of us may be writing about serious academic or personal issues. These topics often lend themselves to an educational approach.
However...
Many readers retain valuable information much longer if it is presented in an entertaining and/or encouraging way.
A combination of two or all three of these reasons to write is seen across virtually all nonfiction and fiction works.
Among them...
MEMOIR
The best memoirs entertain and educate readers. And, hopefully, they provide encouragement as well, especially to readers who have experienced something similar to the author.
DEVOTIONALS
Most, if not all, devotional writers want to encourage readers to draw closer to the Lord and educate them about biblical principles. It is common to include a personal anecdote, which, at times, may be entertaining as well as encouraging.
JOURNALISTIC ARTICLES
Primarily journalistic pieces are for educational purposes. However, in this day and age, there has been a plethora of responses to the outcry for uplifting news items. More than ever before, there is the opportunity to encourage and entertain as well as educate with this type of writing.
HISTORICAL FICTION
It's obvious with this genre that although the writer's main purpose is not likely to educate, readers are bound to learn something about the era in which the story is set (as long as the writer has done their research). As with virtually all genre fiction, the writer is likely seeking to entertain their readers. Encouragement may come, but it is often not in the forefront of the writer's mind.
SPECULATIVE FICTION
Perhaps surprisingly, education may weave its way through the speculative fiction story. They often serve as cautionary tales of how things could go horribly wrong if we continue on our current course. Many stories that would fall under the speculative fiction category may seem purely entertaining, which is not a bad thing. However, each reader brings his or her perspective to whatever they read. So, a writer's spec fiction may end up educating and encouraging as well as entertaining.
Have you given much thought to your number one reason for writing? Is it to educate, entertain, or encourage? Or is it something else. Bonus points if it begins with this month's letter, E.
Steph Beth Nickel writes speculative YA fiction to entertain and encourage. She writes devotionals to encourage and educate. She co-writes memoir to educate and encourage. She writes a wide variety of things because she is eclectically interested. (Note: "Eclectic" is yet another E word.)
