Why do you write?

[truepenny]

jaylake asks (and answers), and oracne also asks.

I pondered this question for quite some time before I felt like I could even attempt to answer it. And you have to understand that my answer is not an answer, it's a myth (again in its proper sense as a story that helps us make sense of who we are and how our world works). The truth isn't tidy enough to be an answer.

I write because I can't imagine not writing. But I can't imagine not writing because I've brainwashed taught myself to accept WRITING as my default setting. Not with 100% success, mind you; I backslide and procrastinate. But in general, if I'm not-writing, it's because I'm doing something else, not because not-writing is my natural state of being.

If that makes any sense at all.

And it is the result of training. I didn't used to be like this. In college, I wrote when inspiration struck, which meant not very often, and not with a very high (for which, read 'rapidly approaching zero') completion rate. So over the last ten years or so, I've learned better discipline. I've also learned to give myself permission to take my writing seriously, as a vocation to be treated with respect, not a hobby to be apologized for. And that shift in attitude made a big difference in my day to day relationship with the writing.

I also write because the stories in my head want OUT. But, please note, why do you write? and why do you publish? are two different questions. I publish because I can get paid for it, because it means more people can read what I write, because publishing can set up a positive feedback loop and people I don't know will actually express a desire to read what I write. (I still can't get over that--it's like the coolest thing in the whole entire world.) But that's not why I write. In the beginning, it's all about the stories I tell myself, and really, that's why I write, to give those airy nothings a local habitation and a name.

I still don't feel as if I've answered the question. I write because I can, because I must, because there are stories that want to be told, and people that want to read them.

Also because it's the best damn job in the world, and I can't imagine doing anything else with the same fervor and outright joy with which I write.

Comments

[oracne.livejournal.com]

Actually, I didn't read Jay's post--that was just me reminding myself.

[truepenny.livejournal.com]

I love the smell of synchronicity in the morning.

[oracne.livejournal.com]

Maybe it was Aliens what done it.

[janni.livejournal.com]

It's good to hear someone else say, basically, that they've trained themselves into needing to write. Because I've never believed I had no choice; but I also believe it'd be really, really hard to stop now.

[tcastleb.livejournal.com]

I like the part about giving yourself permission to take writing seriously. . .having gone to music school, I get a lot of, "So what are you going to do with that? Teach?" A better answer now would be, "Play and enjoy it." Writing's the same way; it used to sound odd to mumble, "I write fantasy books. . ." but now I realize people are interested, they think it's cool, and while some of them realize it's a long road to make any money at it, it's something to be proud of. That's actually a hard transition, to go from wondering if anyone will ever like your stuff to actually shoving it out into the real world and hoping it survives. (Hi, by the way; I just recently found your blog and ordered Melusine and am very much looking forward to reading it.)

Me

[dmsherwood53.livejournal.com]

Its a doubtless very Freudian wish to produce something were there was nothing much except vague images and whispy feelings. To say THERE IT VIS I DID IT.
Loike you said this is too neat.

[mirinae.livejournal.com]

Thanks for that. :)

[redheadedfemme]

Thank you for writing this. I added it to my memories, if you don't mind.

[truepenny.livejournal.com]

I don't mind a bit.

[pariyal.livejournal.com]

Sister! Elder sister, though; I'm still learning to take my writing seriously. But only this evening I told someone "I write books, of course, so I need my computer."