Writing isn't always a path to fame or wealth, nor its motivation.

Writing can build a lasting legacy.

Writing often offers intrinsic fulfillment over external rewards or ego boosts.

Since 1997, I have had 40 books published. I have four more that are coming out over the next few months, and two additional ones that are being considered for publication. None of these have been self-published; all of them are from trade publishers, university presses, or scholarly independents.

In addition to my books, all of them non-fiction, I’ve had published a couple dozen articles and more than 200 blog posts like this one. And like most people, I’ve written thousands of emails and, when I had real jobs, lots of memos. (Do people still write memos?) That adds up to millions of words (and doesn’t include the many letters I wrote to friends and family when that was something people actually did).

I say (actually write) this not to boast but to question its motive(s). It’s certainly not “normal” human behavior, making me question why I’ve spent much of the past three decades scribbling away. It’s definitely not for money, as there are far more lucrative occupations to choose if my........

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