Why do I write? Why do you?

Writing isn't easy, not if a person puts forth the effort to write something that's well crafted, has meaning, and is without grammar, spelling, or sentence structure problems. A finished product is the result of hard work, if the truth be known.

So, why do people write? As one person in my writing group stated, "If there's a good chance that we'll never be published, or if we are, we'll never make any money, why do it? Why put ourselves through that much pain and work for nothing?"

I can't speak for anyone else, much less for everyone, but I know why I write: I have no choice. An idea, a plot, characters, lines of poetry, words, words, words take root and in my head, and I can't do anything else but write.

A tablet and pen lie beside my bed. I carry a small pad and pen in my purse. Why? Because words hit me during my sleep, when I'm traveling, when I'm waiting. The best way to keep them from haunting me and to keep from forgetting them is to write them.

Yes, I am obsessed with writing, if being obsessed means I have no control over writing or not writing. I have no choice but write.

Next question, why try to get those words published if I write because I have to write? Needing to write doesn't mean I must go through the ordeal of rejections and hopefully finding a home for those words. Perhaps publication is a form of vindication, a desire to share my thoughts, my ideas, my plots, my characters. Sometimes what I write may fill a need that others have, such as my juvenile books helping reluctant readers find books that they can and will read.

Yes, I have files full of material that hasn't been published, and which may never be read by anyone else. However, I also have had poetry, short stories, and articles published over a period of nearly forty years. More recently a few young adult novels and a mystery/suspense novel have seen publication.

Will I make money on my writing? Perhaps. I have made some with the poetry, articles, and short stories over the years, but not enough to worry about income taxes. My books may never make a profit (or enough royalty to mean I actually made more than a few cents an hour invested into writing them), but I did what I needed to do. Yes, I put many hours, effort, and funds into promotion, but I meet some really great people if nothing else.

Of course I want to have my books bring in money. I'm not without ambition. However, I'm willing to do the best to promote my books and see what happens. After all, my obsession has been met.

Why do you write?


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