On Writing and Storytelling: What’s the Best Part of Being a Writer?

What’s the best thing about being a writer?

Honestly, while I do cherish the creative side of writing—the thrill of shaping stories from nothing but ideas and turning blank pages or screens into worlds filled with believable characters and moments—there’s something even more rewarding: hearing from readers after a story finds its way into the world.

Of course, I appreciate the royalties from my books; writing is my profession, not just a hobby or a side gig (though someone once called it that to my face, and I was honestly both shocked and a little hurt). I spend long, sometimes exhausting, hours at my desk, pouring as much of myself as I can into each story. Naturally, I hope that work is recognized and rewarded. But beyond the business and artistry of being an author, what truly fills me up—what keeps me coming back to the page—is knowing my words have touched someone.

Outstanding! Reunion is full of honest emotion, mature reflection, and rich details that made the story real. A lovely and bittersweet memory that reminded me how important my high school days were to me.

Let me share two comments from readers in a reading group about my novella, Reunion: A Story. These responses, written in 2004, are the kind of gifts that make all those solitary hours worthwhile:

We never forget, do we…

Outstanding! Reunion is full of honest emotion, mature reflection, and rich details that made the story real. A lovely and bittersweet memory that reminded me how important my high school days were to me.

And another reader wrote:

Beautiful

Truly beautiful. Very poignant and so very true. Thank you for writing this; it touches my heart deeply.

So yes, the practical side matters, and I’m grateful for every royalty payment, but the real joy—the reason I keep writing—is the connection. It’s hearing that my words became someone else’s memory, comfort, or inspiration. That’s the best thing about being a writer.