Why do you write?

[One Son of Many]

(This thread is aimed at finding motivation to carry you to the end of your project... )

What is the main reason you write? Is it notoriety, money, excitement in world building, the sheer joy of the craft, escapism from the real world or something totally different?
Personally, I do it mainly for a different reason (goal). My biggest goal is to take the reader by the imaginative hand and guide them on a journey, take control of their emotions for a short while. I want to make them smile with my characters, laugh at what my characters do, cry at what happens to them, get angry at what gets done to them by their adversaries, love them for who they become............and so on, *sigh*. It's not about making money or writing with intentions of obtaining mega-movie rights. (although, if it did come around, I suppose I would just have to suffer...... )

So, people, the question remains. What motivates your pen to scribble on paper to the wee hours of morning, to get muscle-clenching cramps in your neck and back and to lose countless hours of sleep while your eyes film over from radiation burn of the computer screen (those that write in contemporary fashion)?

 

[katelyn]

I write because I have to. Not in a negative way - writing makes me happy. I don't know why or how, but God just put the need to write inside me! I've actually found that when I don't write, the imagination that I put in my stories manifests itself in my dreams. (That is, I end up having some crazy dreams - some that even lead me to a story idea!) Has anyone else experienced that, or am I just crazy?

Part of the reason I'm having trouble reaching the end of my project is a desire to get the last scenes just right. Another I think is that I'll be sad when my journey with these now well-loved characters comes to a close. This is my first novel-length project that will be coming to completion. I'm a little surprised that I'm kind of sad to be done. It's not something I would have predicted before I started writing it.

Of course, I should keep in mind that I have another whole set of lovable characters waiting for me on the other side of this story.

 

[oncewaslost]

i write cause it entertains me. no one reads my writing except me. yeah, sad but it's true.

 

[72_Chev_Truck]

I write to help remove pain

 

[Blessed-one]

awww Chev_Truck...

i write because it's fun.

 

[Justice4JC]

I write because it's fun and I like to imagine. I like getting out of my own personality and creating new characters. And even embedding some of those characters with some traits of myself.

I write to give humor, yet also to give a good message behind my work. I don't do it for money, even though money will be a byproduct of it. I do it for God. And because I'm using my talents for Him and being obedient, I will be blessed.

That emoticon's cool First time I've seen a hugging one.

 

[pmarquette]

Write a weekly 4 page letter to prisoners at a couple of jails , and copy what I write to others . A bible study , some simple concept to strengthen , encourage , exhort others.

I make little " Jesus cards " [ business cards with cartoon and bible verse ] and pass
them out where ever I go . Lift up people with a downcast countenance ... a way to witness , encourage , affirm

 

[Silver Saint]

I don't write to open doors; I write to break down walls! To open possibilities for people that they never even knew existed... because it was once done for me.



I am aware,
Isacc

 

[One Son of Many]

Wow! Quite a few unique reasons! Just reading your replies are inspiring! Thanks to all!

 

[invisiblebabe]

I write because I have to. Not in a negative way - writing makes me happy. I don't know why or how, but God just put the need to write inside me! I've actually found that when I don't write, the imagination that I put in my stories manifests itself in my dreams. (That is, I end up having some crazy dreams - some that even lead me to a story idea!) Has anyone else experienced that, or am I just crazy?

If you're crazy, so am I I can totally relate!

 

[oneofGodskids]

i write because it's fun and i love to create and manage my own characters. It makes me happy to write also....so..anyways..thats basically why i like to write.lol.

Natali

 

[psychoceramic]

I write because i do not have any other means to deal with all that goes into my life, i read for the same reason. ok i do have other means, but i was told it is against the law to kill people (even the stupid ones) and to punch random objects.



= : >
they call me psycho psycho psycho,

Just keep swimming, swimming swimming. just keep swimming.


i truly write for the love of words and for the praise of the creator of the words.

 

[Kaylynn]

it's a good way to escape for a while if you're writing fictional works...

it's just a hobby really...i write because I like to write....i dunno...I guess my over all answer will have to be "I just do..."

 

[Lyle]

I write because...

A) I enjoy it greatly
B) I can fully communicate thoughts in the form of a story or otherwise
C) I can express the truth in a way to reach people in different ways
D) I can apply truth in a real life manner through my stories
E) I have a over-active imagination and everything has to get out

 

[Blessed-one]

it's interesting to read the reasons for writing.

D) I can apply truth in a real life manner through my stories

things don't seems to go the 'right' way in real life, but in novels, they can come to life.

 

[AmeriLovesJesus]

I love writing poems.. and just writing.. I write all the time.. my thoughts on page.. Love looking back.. at them..

 

[discipleofWORD]

Ok... i had to edit this entry since now I'm wide-away(i'm at school currently...)

I gotta admit... writing is an awesome way of expressing your thoughts and ideas. Usually (i believe) that people would always use it as a tool to express their happiness, sadness, etc. Like if one is given a canvas and some paints. He/she would just splash those paints according to his own taste/emotion.

But... there are those who also write... to share their insights. THey want to express how bad it is to rude to someone, so they'll write a story about it. They have something to tell the world--their ideas.

Well, when i started writing, it used to be splatter a bunch of words onto paper due to emotion and share it with people, expecting them to like it. Now, i'm writing mostly to share my insights and ideas to the world.

I tell you, (i bet you guys felt this before), i had thoughts of mini fame and money going through my mind. We writers can't help it. As we write something, we think "oh, this will be published" or something. I think if you just think little about that and think, "that'll be cool if I could get my stuff published...", that's not bad. But if you only do write as a way to get "quick fame and money", i suggest to take acting instead--there's a lot of room for those commercials.

I struggle with the thoughts of fame and money, feeling unworthy to write for God if i have these thoughts... yet then again, it's all for Him... please, of all the things, i hope i do'nt write simply to be published and get quick fame and money.

Did you know(i think) that only some writers live on their writings. (Meaning, writers get enough money from their writings, they don't need another job!) Like J.R. Rowling. That's a simple dream that I have... do you too?

 

[artybloke]

I write to feel alive.

 

[Alternate Carpark]

I'm with you discipleofWORD.

I struggle with the fame and money thing, but God always reminds me of why I am a writer, and that I don't even have to write 'christian' books.
Because If I am immersed in Him, He will flow out onto the pages, no matter what I write about.
Of course unless I'm writing a technical manual for a electric razor or something like that but, you know what I mean....you do know what I mean don't you....PLEASE TELL ME YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN !!!

I sort of see it this way, if giving a glass of water to someone shows them the love of God, then translating that concept into writing does spread the boundaries quite a
bit doesn't it on what can be written.

Oh yeah, why do I write.
If I don't write and get it out of my head, it fades away and dies.
And one day I may have something world changing to say.
But not at the moment.
I only just found out I am writer....um....2 years ago.
So I have a lot of catching up to do and developing and practice blah blah blah, you know the drill.
I am a deep thinker and writing is the perfect tool to express myself.
The pace is slow, I can sit back and meditate on what I have written so far, develop it more, explore all the tributaries, research, fine tune and then deal with the strange feelings when it is finished.

Just like katelyn said, there are these sad feelings that rise up when a project is nearing completion.
I guess it's sort of like what they say about artists.
They never finish a work, they abandon it. We pour our hearts into something and it hurts to part with it.
I used to feel that way when I started writing, so much that I would literally feel ill for a few days afterwards. How cool is that .
Now I don't feel it as much but there's still this twinge of loss every now and then.

 

[Justice4JC]

Wow, that was beautifully said, Carpack

I wish I can actually complete something to feel that feeling


(PS: Yeah, I know what you mean, lol)