Countless people have been inspired by Zig Ziglar’s famous quote, “You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want.”

We can easily see how this applies to people in sales, marketing, or other business-related positions. But how does this apply to writers?

Here’s a simple principle to remember: Writing is not about the words. It’s about the people who are affected by your words.

This means we not only try to write well, but we keep in mind whom we’re writing for. We’re writing for human beings who are pretty much just trying to get through life on a daily basis.

We’re writing for that single mother who is struggling. For that teenager who is trying to fit in. For that new father who feels a new weight of responsibility. For that man in his 50s who just found out he has advanced prostate cancer.

More than anything, people want to have hope. Hope comes in many forms. It can look like self-help books, podcasts, novels, short stories, blog posts, business books, or many other things.

We writers are called to be brokers of hope. Our currency is the words we use. Whatever you’re working on today, think about the faces of the people who will read those words. Remember that your words can bring them hope by making them laugh, cry, reflect, or take action toward their dreams.

Could there be any better calling than this?