By Gerald Gillis  »  So you want to write a book? You've always wondered what if might be like to see a title of your own on a bookstore shelf, but you've yet to make the commitment to begin the process. You're creative, you think you have a story to tell, and you believe you have the ability to tell that story. Surveys have shown that over 80% of Americans feel they have a book in them. ''There lurks, perhaps, in every human heart,'' wrote Samuel Johnson, ''a desire of distinction, which inclines every man to hope, and then to believe, that nature has given himself something peculiar to himself.''

Is there a book in you? And are you willing to spend long hours with a pen in hand or a keyboard at your fingertips? Can you commit to a process that could take months, perhaps even years, before you achieve your particular objectives? And are you willing to risk criticism and/or rejection over a labor of love that you've put so much of yourself into?

Well, if so, here are five reasons you should just do it:

1. Each of us has enough unique ideas and experiences that, if shared, would either entertain, inform, or benefit someone else. What is yours? 2. Writing a book and having it vigorously edited will further develop your communication skills. Better communication skills, whether verbal, written, or both, is highly transferrable to virtually any other endeavor. This is certainly one of the valuable derivatives of becoming a polished, effective writer.

3. Self publishing and print-on-demand technology are dramatically changing the publishing industry, and offer prospective authors an alternative to the traditional publishing methodologies. 4. Writing a book opens up other possibilities such as consulting, speaking, or teaching. If you are an expert in a particular subject or field, having a book to your credit could add to your credibility.

5. Satisfaction. Your book will outlive you, but before it does you will receive an immense amount of satisfaction from being a published author.

You will notice that I did not include earning lots of money and garnering vast amounts of fame in one of the reasons. While that may indeed happen, the odds are stacked heavily against it. It would be easy enough to write an accompanying piece about Five Reasons Why NOT to Write a Book, but I'm sure there are five (if not fifty) reasons to avoid any worthwhile undertaking. If writing a book is extraordinarily important to you, as it properly should be, then go for it.

Otherwise, you'll never know.

• Gerald Gillis is the author of the award-winning historical novel "Shall Never See So Much." Visit his website or read his blog.