As an author, you’ve put into words your thoughts, feelings and ideas. When you become a published author, these musings are printed in indelible ink, and your story lives on within the pages of a physical book – its newfound home.

With the turn of each page, the picture that you’re trying to paint with your words is beautifully blended with your personality, your tone and your creativity. It’s a story that can bring you and the ones you love back to a place in time, a place in history. As an author, you’ve put down in writing the legacy that you want to leave. This is a legacy that can be passed down from generation to generation telling a story that will withstand the test of time.

Perhaps you’ve never thought of your book in this light. Sure you’ve seen it as a finished product, something that you hope will land in the hands of people far and wide. You hope that your story and your message will transcend different backgrounds, demographics, cultures, etc.

But, have you ever thought that the book that you’ve poured your imagination into, enduring long nights of writing, brainstorming and perfecting the cadence of your words, might just be a piece of your history, your family’s history, something that’s palpable to share with the ones that you love?

Just imagine that one day, after a copyright on your work has been filed, a copy of your book will live in the Library of Congress. Your very own work, residing on a shelf in the world’s largest library – can you picture that? There, your book would be alongside millions of other books, photographs, maps and manuscripts created by people both past present who have put their imaginations into something tangible.

If you’re thinking to yourself, “What could I possibly write that would help me leave my mark?”

The answer to this question is anything. Just start writing. Write about your family or, perhaps, events that have occurred that changed the course of your life. Tell your story and be genuine. The fact of the matter is, the story that lives inside of us all is waiting to come out, and your thoughts and ideas could leave a lasting mark – a legacy.

Leave your mark today.