1. You always have somewhere unique to escape to, even when you don’t think you need it.

2. Having complete control over the outcome of a story and the characters that live in it.

3. Realizing that you have the potential to tell a story no one has ever told before — at least, not the way you’re going to tell it.

4. Being able to seek revenge on your enemies without causing them any actual real-world harm. (You think this is a joke. It’s not. Or is it?)

5. Having somewhere to channel your thoughts and emotions even when you’re alone.

6. Watching an idea grow from a single spark inside your head to something another person can read and enjoy.

7. Being able to help people even if you never meet them face-to-face.

8. Not having to search long and hard for the stories you want to read … because you just get to sit down and write them yourself.

9. Connecting with people who understand your hunger for creating things out of nothing.

10. Getting to share stories you’re proud of with people who will fall in love with them.

11. Maybe even getting to change a life or two along the way.

12. Having words to leave behind long after you’re gone — because we are all going, but our stories are forever.

Meg is the creator of Novelty Revisions, dedicated to helping writers put their ideas into words. She is an editor and writer, and a 12-time NaNoWriMo winner. Follow Meg on Twitter for tweets about writing, food, and Star Wars.

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