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Jun 13, 2026 4 min

This is Why Bother

from The Storyteller's Corner Podcast Hosted by Joshua T Calkins-Treworgy

[Verse 1]There’s a comet streaking through a writer’s mind,Hail Bop for the soul, leaving doubt behind.It whispers low when the pages pile high,“Why Bother, old friend? Just let the dream die.”But I’ve been swinging this hammer since two-thousand-five,Tamalarian tales keeping hope alive.Ten books with publishers, more on my own,Twenty-six novels, I ain’t done yet, no![Chorus]So why bother? Why bother?I bother ‘cause I love it, that’s the honest truth!Why bother? Why bother?The stories keep on calling, through the joy and the blues!Ain’t chasing bestsellers or that big city glow,I’m tending my garden where the wild tales grow.When the world sells garbage with a premium fee,Somebody’s gotta spin something honest and free!Why stop? Why stop?That’s the only question left for me![Verse 2]YouTube since ‘07, same old channel still,Six hundred strong but my heart’s got the will.Four thousand copies on a Hunter’s tale,Most books under five hundred, but I spin ‘em well.No agent, no degree, just grit and grace,Editing ‘til my fingers near fall off the page.I’m a storyteller first, not chasing the game,Business can be brutal, but the art fans the flame![Chorus]So why bother? Why bother?I bother ‘cause I love it, that’s the honest truth!Why bother? Why bother?The stories keep on calling, through the joy and the blues!Ain’t chasing bestsellers or that big city glow,I’m tending my garden where the wild tales grow.When the world sells garbage with a premium fee,Somebody’s gotta spin something honest and free!Why stop? Why stop?That’s the only question left for me![Bridge]It keeps me sane in a world gone mad,Puts decency back where the cynics got sad.No sermons, no lectures, just a yarn well-spun,For the folks who need wonder when the day is done.Bro-energy hustlers can laugh if they please,I’ll be right here planting narrative seeds![Verse 3]Eighteen years and counting (my career as an author), old enough to vote,Could march into service but I’d rather floatThese rivers of ink through the dark and the light,Father, husband, dreamer—working every night.Nobody promised easy, nobody owes me fame,But the duty to the Art calls out my name.[Final Chorus (louder, bigger sing-along)]So why bother? Why bother?I bother ‘cause I love it, that’s the honest truth!Why bother? Why bother?The stories keep on calling, me and you!We’ll keep the fire burning when the cold winds blow,Tales full of wonder in a world that needs ‘em so!Disney can keep their soulless machine,We’ll write the real stuff, keep the magic clean!Why stop? Why stop?Hell no—we’re never gonna stop![Outro]Why stop… why stop…Keep the stories flowing, friends—never stop! Get full access to The Storyteller's Corner at thestorytellerscorner.substack.com/subscribe

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This is Why Bother

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This episode is 4 minutes long.

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This episode was published on June 13, 2026.

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