The world we live in isn’t perfect, but literature can make us feel like it is. Moreover, when you have writers who are not only great at what they do but also good and kind-hearted people, things seem less bleak. Terry Pratchett was one of the best examples of a person who is a great writer with numerous best selling books, as well as someone who actively tried to change the world for the better.
An amazing fantasy writer
Terry Pratchett wrote more than 70 books during his career and many of them became instant bestsellers. Snuff, one of his novels, managed to become the third fastest-selling hardback for an adult audience in the UK. His Discworld novels, which include 40 books, are probably his most famous fantasy series that people of all ages still love and cherish. There aren’t many writers out there who would be able to succeed in creating such a vast and intricate universe that incorporates that many books perfectly tied together. He was also famous for co-writing Good Omens with Neil Gaiman, among many other accomplishments. Terry Pratchett is undoubtedly one of the best fantasy writers of our time, and his books show his brilliant nature, especially in the way he knew how to blend his own sense of humor with his views on politics, religion, and morality.
An inspiration for others
Terry Pratchett was never too secretive or proud to reveal his writing techniques. He was always willing to help other writers and give his advice to those who needed it. In 2007 he published an essay ‘Notes from a Successful Fantasy Author: Keep it Real’ in which he gave all his knowledge on the process of writing and described his own writing process to the smallest details. This essay helped many aspiring writers with not only writing but by making them feel like writing a novel is an attainable goal and not some mystical process that they will never understand.
Raising awareness of Alzheimer’s
Terry Pratchett was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and he immediately became an activist, trying to raise awareness for this disease that affects as much as 50 million people worldwide. He donated a million dollars to Alzheimer’s Research UK and continued to inform and teach people about this illness.
He even filmed a program with BBC where he talked about how Alzheimer’s affected him personally, and he took us through all of the stages of the disease.
He made people believe in dreams
Throughout his life, Terry Pratchet has always chased his dreams. He lived such an amazing and inspiring life, and he made us believe that all our dreams were indeed possible if we believed in them strong enough.
