Why Bother To Write?

 

One more post from the past. It was published in a writer's newsletter some years ago.

Does it sometimes appear that writing is meant to defeat a writer rather than buoy her to great heights? Do you ever wonder why in the world you're beating your head against the writing wall? Have you asked yourself “If it is this hard to become a widely published writer, why bother?”

We bother because we enjoy stringing words to make sentences, sentences to make paragraphs and paragraphs to create a story. We bother because there is something satisfying to our soul when we write. We bother because we are inspired by thoughts spinning through our minds, thoughts wanting to be sifted and sorted and put together coherently.

We bother, and I include myself here, because we love to write. We bother because we have something to say. We bother because we may want to prove something to ourselves. We bother because we know that the more we write, the more we grow as a writer.

We bother because we've had positive feedback from readers. We bother because we've had some encouraging rejections from editors. We bother because we've had enough acceptances to know that we are not a washout as a writer. We bother because we have something to offer to others. We bother because we’d miss writing too much if we stopped.

Now, aren't those enough reasons to stay on the writing journey? They are for me, and I hope you feel the same. Just keep in mind that there is no express elevator. You move up one step at a time.

Write For The Sheer Love Of It

 I wholeheartedly agree. Write because you love it. If you somehow become famous or make a lot of money along the way, so much the better. But, don't make fame and fortune your number one reason for writing.

I fear that people who do so don't put heart and soul into their work like the person who writes because they love it. Sooner or later, it shows. Those who write only for fame or lots of dollars might as well find some other job for I doubt writing will be satisfying to them. Sure, it might work dor a few but they probably don't get much satisfcation out of the actual writing. 

We've all heard people say "It's a job." when someone asks how they like doing whatever it is--accounting, clerking in a retail setting, delivering the mail or slinging hash in a diner. Wouldn't it be nice if they could exclaim "I love it!" If you have a passion for writing, you could be the person to say those three little words. 

We all need a break or a little vacation away from whatever work we do. When you stop writing for a few days or a week or more, how do you feel? Do you miss it? If you truly love writing, you' will. I'm not saying you shouldn't take that break now and then. It does us all some good to get away from what we do on a regular basis. I find that, after a vacation, I'm anxious to get back to writing. 

I have to admit that I often do write something when I'm on vacation. Maybe not a full story or a lengthy poem or essay, but I'll jot down parts of a poem or an idea for a story. I need to do so while it is fresh in my mind. If I wait til I get home, more than likely the ideas are still floating away on a blue lake. 

Write for the sheer love of it.

Three Reasons A Writer Writes

Maya Angelou's quote made me think that a writer writes because she/he has something to say. A writer writes to share their innermost thoughts with others--namely their readers. A writer writes because there is something within them that drives them to do so. Let's look at these three reasons, one by one.

Something to say: If you say that writers are opinionated people, you'd probably be right in the majority of cases. Writers do have opinions and they come through in the stories, articles, essays and poems they write. Young people want to change the world, and if they are writers, they hope to do that with the pieces they write. As we mature, we finally realize that we alone cannot change the world, but guess what? We can do out part and have a say in what we think is either right or wrong.

Share thoughts:  Writers have a desire to share their thoughts with others. Writers don't necessarily need everyone to agree with their thoughts, but they do want readers to know about what they are. They also want to share their knowledge and/or expertise in a particular subject. They want to offer their own life experiences to readers which can explain or motivate or let the reader gain an understanding.

Driven to write:  I think that most writers will agree with me that there is something deep inside that makes them want to write more than any other thing they might choose to do. I heard one writer say I can't not write! And I nodded my head in agreement at her statement. I knew the feeling well. What it is that creates this strong feeling, I don't know. But it's definitely inside some of us, the ones who become writers. That doesn't mean only fulltime professional writers. It can run the gamut from occasional poet to bestselling novelist.

If you have something to say, want to share your thoughts with others and are driven to write, you can label yourself a true writer. There may be other criteria to call yourself a writer but these three work just fine.

Why We Write For Publication?

There are various reasons a person writes. A few people do it strictly for themselves, would never want the world to see what they’ve written. The mere act of writing satisfies the soul for some, and for others, a lack of self-confidence keeps them from submitting their work for publication. But he majority of writers strive for publication for various reasons, some of which overlap.

Chief among them is cash, either needed or desired. Let’s be honest. There must be very few writers who wouldn’t welcome a check in exchange for words written. That old adage “Time is money” holds true for writers. They deserve compensation for the great amount of time it takes to ponder over an idea, to write, and then revise a piece. They offer knowledge and/or entertainment in exchange for money.

For others, the byline is important. Seeing your name on a story that is available for the world to read gives one a sense of pride and a feeling of accomplishment. I once knew an obstetrician who claimed he received a thrill with every baby he delivered. Writers might feel the same with every new story, essay or article created. Each one comes close to the joy that the doctor experienced with every newborn he held in his skilled hands.

Publication provides a way of touching the lives of others with the words written and printed in a magazine, newspaper or ezine. A writer can derive satisfaction in the hope that she has made a difference in someone’s life. The sad part is that the writer seldom knows who, or how many, her words have touched. Occasionally, a reader will respond with a letter, phone call, or a comment via a website to tell the author how her words have made a difference, how they taught a lesson, or perhaps touched a heart. What could be a better inspiration to continue writing?

Perhaps some write to fill a need to produce something worthwhile. They hope to leave something personal, a legacy of a kind. Long after a writer dies, her words can still be read by and touch succeeding generations. Even writers who don’t achieve great fame and fortune can be reasonably assured that their work will be passed down through the family for generations to come.