Why do you write? (Apart from money)

aruna · Oct 16, 2005

It's multiple choice, try to limit to three. Discuss. Have fun. Tell us.

kristie911 · Oct 16, 2005

You forgot...To be rich and famous
and
Because if I don't I'll go completely insane and kill someone.
(like the guy in the resturant yelling on his cellphone or the lady with her turn signal on because she's too stupid to turn it off)

pickman · Oct 16, 2005

Writing fiction for me is mainly a way of expressing my thoughts and opinions through the medium of story-telling. Although I am more focused on telling a good story than preaching, often my own ideas find their way into the narrative.

I guess there is also an egostistical, attention-seeking motivation underlying it. As a kid, I used to gain favourable attention in class whenever I wrote stories that made my classmates laugh and/or earned the high opinion of my teachers. I guess I am doing the same sort of thing now, but with a wider audience.

aruna · Oct 16, 2005

kristie911 said:
You forgot...To be rich and famous
and
Because if I don't I'll go completely insane and kill someone.
(like the guy in the resturant yelling on his cellphone or the lady with her turn signal on because she's too stupid to turn it off)

Ooops - I intended to ask why, apart from money. I would put fame in the ego department. Now let me see if I can change that title...

azbikergirl · Oct 16, 2005

Because the stories are in me and haunt me until they're released. Since it would be far less satisfying to write them down knowing nobody will ever read them, Entertaining Readers and Expressing Yourself come closest.

scarletpeaches · Oct 16, 2005

I said, to communicate with others (I am a much better writer than I am a speaker, getting on with people is hard for me given the family in which I was brought up - talking was 'not the done thing') and to express myself - after all, if it's disguised as fiction and no-one can tell how much is 'real' - they can't get on at you for it, can they?

I also use writing as a way of putting right, wrongs and injustices. If something happens to me or my friends that upsets me, I can use that as inspiration for a baddy getting his or her come-uppance! So I guess you could say writing is also therapeutic revenge!

aruna · Oct 16, 2005

I ticked the change/touch people box, plus communicate and self-expression.
If, at the same time, I can entertain and delight them, win literary prizes AND earn a lot of money it would be even better!

ANNIE · Oct 16, 2005

I put other because I write because I have too. It's as much for me as it is to entertain others.

Old Hack · Oct 16, 2005

I write just because it's there to be written down--what ever "it" is. Because no matter how hard I try to avoid writing some days, I'm happier once I've done it. No matter how hard writing is for me these days (I have painful hands and writing's a bastard on them sometimes) it makes me feel, well, not exactly better, but relieved. That sounds like I'm suffering from some sort of literary constipation, doesn't it? Ha!

HConn · Oct 16, 2005

I checked "other" because there was no option for "to impress hot, brainy women."

AdamH · Oct 16, 2005

I chose other...just for fun...but that's also why I write.

WriterInChains · Oct 16, 2005

I write because (to use Gloria Steinem's words) it's the only thing I do that while I'm doing it I don't feel like I should be doing something else. The only more fulfilling experience I've ever had, is parenting.

And because: [font=georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif] There are thousands of thoughts lying within a man that he does not know till he takes up the pen and writes. (~William Makepeace Thackeray).

I don't think the world will suffer unduly if my perspective isn't out there in novel form, but I know I'll regret it if I don't make the effort. (Yes, I'm officially a masochist.

)
[/font]

Tiaga · Oct 16, 2005

as far back as I can remember I always wanted to.

pepperlandgirl · Oct 16, 2005

I guess because I didn't know there was a choice. It's just what I do.

Sage · Oct 16, 2005

aruna said:
It's multiple choice, try to limit to three. Discuss. Have fun. Tell us.

Grr, it helps to read the post first. I only chose one, but I could have easily chosen two more, since I was so torn.

I chose the second one, but entertain others is high up there, as well as self-expression, though it's really about expressing my story ideas rather that personal feelings. But for that latter one, I would almost want a choice of "entertain myself" in there because my writing in the past has all been for that purpose (with the option to share with my friends).

September skies · Oct 16, 2005

Ever since I was a child, I always had a need to write. I always pen and paper with me and I would be the most happy, curled up somewhere, writing.

It's just something I have to do. I can't live without it.

kelker11 · Oct 16, 2005

I choose 'Other' because I write for personal pleasure. I enjoy the creative aspect of developing storylines and creating characters from scratch. And while being a rich and famous author would be nice, my writing is actually just a hobby. Something I do for down time from the stress of life...its my escape.

Button · Oct 16, 2005

I write fiction, because I want to know what happens next.

I start a story, I wish to finish it, without knowing what will happen for certain. It's locked within the pages, merely waiting for me to uncover.

TeddyG · Oct 16, 2005

In my younger days I used to write because I thought I had something to say and wanted to be rich and famous (I kid you not.)

Then I wanted to touch people, move them, see them cry or smile or argue over my words.

Then when my second children's book was published, oh so many years ago, and I was walking down a street and saw it in the window of a store in Jerusalem (imported all the way from the USA), I decided I wrote because of the feeling it gave me at that moment.

As the years went by, I abandoned the rich and famous desire, and I realized that to touch people you had to be real - first and foremost to yourself - and I understood that the feeling of seeing your book in the window of a bookstore or listed at Amazon, while incredible, does not last.

Then I realized that all the above were excuses. Simply put, I write for me. To bring out the raw, the untouched, the hidden emotion and the passion. To let that voice express itself, first and foremost to my own concious mind. I write to let the story out so I can read it for myself.

And when I do that, I know I will touch others. I know the book will always be in the window of my mind and that too is an exhilirating experience. And though I have no clue if I will ever be famous or rich, I do know I have made my own world richer, and I know myself that much better.

Teddy

JANE007 · Oct 16, 2005

I write because I love to write. I write all sorts of stuff... short stories, humour, columns, essays, and even novels (almost finished my 1st).

I thoroughly enjoy writing, it is an outlet and a creative practice for me. I am happy that others enjoy reading my stuff, however it wouldn't stop me from writing even if they didn't.

:Thumbs:

aka eraser · Oct 16, 2005

I like to entertain and to communicate my thoughts to others. I sometimes get theirs in return/response and the evolving relationships and friendships that often result are terrific.

It's also about the only thing, apart from fishing, that I'm good at. And it's illegal to sell fish around here unless you have a commercial license. Words can be sold without a license though, so...it's a no-brainer.

Danger Jane · Oct 16, 2005

Mainly because I can't concentrate on anything else when I DON'T write. Usually story overload happens in the middle of math, so I can let it out while the teacher is being redundant in the front of the room.

paprikapink · Oct 16, 2005

I checked "Other." Seems I mostly just write to justify hanging around here.

That and the quote from Thackery that caren posted. I'm always surprised by the ideas and feelings and weird juxtapositions that flow out when I open the valve.

Oh and also cuz, I wish I knew who said this, "Writing is just talking except without all the interrupting."

Elincoln · Oct 16, 2005

All I want to do is entertain people. I want someone to pick up my book and get lost in my character's world for an hour or more. The greatest thing for me as a writer is to be asked to keep writing novels in a certain timeline because a reader wants to know what happens.

Niapri · Oct 16, 2005

I ticked "to entertain", "to change/touch readers", "to express", and "other"

My other: I write because I have no choice in the matter. I never did. My first story was on a typewriter when I was around 5, and it was..."Misty and Anne". A wolf fell down a cliff and was saved by a unicorn, and they ran off and became best friends. Cute, but scary. I didn't even realize I was writing back then until my dear mother showed it to me.

So...the other reasons are just what I tell people who won't understand that I never "chose" to write, not to mention things that give me the most satisfaction whan I have written.

Why do you write? (Apart from money)

Why do you write?

To entertain readers

To change/touch readers/ show them other worlds

To win literary acclaim and prizes

to boost your ego/ win personal acclaim

To communicate with others

To express yourself, your innermost thoughts and feelings

Self-therapy, solving internal problems

change society/make the world a better place

change society/ make the world a worse place

Other

On a wing and a prayer

Happy to be here

On a wing and a prayer

I really do look like this.

On a wing and a prayer

Such a nasty woman

Whore for genre

Pumped Up Kicks

Feed my eyes

Watching

American Aquarium Drinker

Our Lady of Parentheticals

cloud watching

Resident in Question

The Other Shoe Will Fall!

I'm Part Of The Problem

Fish Whisperer

Bored fanatic

Official Daydreamer of AW