Whether you write to figure things out, calm down, escape into another world or change this world altogether, tell us why you do it. What inspires you? What brings you to the page? What does writing do for you (and for others)? Why do you write?
Lately, I've been writing for the deadline. I gotta have something ready every Saturday on Substack. I love to tell true stories about my life. When I get it just right, I laugh out loud and and then I look forward to putting it out there on Saturday. I love to get lost in the word smithing process. If I didn't have a deadline, I probably wouldn't do it. Thanks for asking. H
Deadlines are such fantastic (and often terrifying) motivators! I love that you have a Substack deadline. And I share your love of telling true stories about life. I think that's why I've always loved biographies and memoirs (and why I'm now a memoir coach). Isn't it so much fun getting lost in the flow of writing? It's such a gift that I never take for granted. Such a beautiful escape. Thanks for sharing. I look forward to reading more of your writing.
I write because I feel compelled to. I say that being creative is expressing your truth. I write fiction because my main character needs me to tell their story. I blog because I want to encourage other people to write their truth - whatever that means to them.
Yes!! You nailed it. I totally identify with that tug and pull of my characters and/or my truth. And isn't it SO rewarding when someone identifies and connects with them? Thanks for sharing!
My entire life I was told I was a writer. As a child, a student, a young adult and on. "You're a writer!" people would say. "Write!" "You've had such an interesting life - you should write about that" and so on. But it wasn't until I completed my graduate work (in my late 40's) and wrote a dissertation on the psychology of home, understanding how people connect to places and people, that I finally felt I had something to write about. Something unique. Something that I could speak to from my own experience. Something that would truly be of value to others.
My struggle as a writer is that I don't write out of vanity. I don't write just to be published. I don't write to hear my own thoughts. I write only when I genuinely think that what I'm writing will actually be useful to others. The most difficult part of that has been accepting that sharing my personal story is helpful to others. I'm more inclined to keep the personal separate. But, it seems from the feedback I've received, that what I write has much more impact when I relate it to my own experience.
What a noble reason to write! I look forward to reading more of your work. To be honest, I find that writing about my own experiences (especially the struggles) seems to connect me more with readers than anything else. I tend to think there's a primal need for humans to understand how we get ourselves out of the hardest times, and that hearing others' stories of hardship and perseverance is inspiring and even life-saving. I also think that writing about myself is sometimes easier than writing about anything else, since I know *me* better than anyone. Maybe that's seen as vanity...but I see it as a comfort zone and even a bit of laziness (for instance, I'm more of an expert on me than on most other things...). I hope that's not vanity. lol. I think there's inherent value in sharing our personal stories, and I'm so glad that others have convinced you to see the positive impact when you relate your experience. GREAT to meet you, and keep writing!
You are absolutely right, Christine - sharing our own stories is indeed inspiring and potentially life-saving. My issue with vanity is an old demon born of an old wound from a family member who loves me but... I did not mean to imply that memoirists write out of vanity. Far from it. Writing is powerful and I believe the purpose of life is to connect. Writing, like all art, holds amazing potential for authentic connection. When we are authentic in our sharing we reach the hearts of others. And THAT is noble!
I write to connect with people. I love vulnerable storytelling because it's a reminder that we are all deeply human and the same.The best way to get to know somebody is through a story.
Lately, I've been writing for the deadline. I gotta have something ready every Saturday on Substack. I love to tell true stories about my life. When I get it just right, I laugh out loud and and then I look forward to putting it out there on Saturday. I love to get lost in the word smithing process. If I didn't have a deadline, I probably wouldn't do it. Thanks for asking. H
Deadlines are such fantastic (and often terrifying) motivators! I love that you have a Substack deadline. And I share your love of telling true stories about life. I think that's why I've always loved biographies and memoirs (and why I'm now a memoir coach). Isn't it so much fun getting lost in the flow of writing? It's such a gift that I never take for granted. Such a beautiful escape. Thanks for sharing. I look forward to reading more of your writing.
I write because I feel compelled to. I say that being creative is expressing your truth. I write fiction because my main character needs me to tell their story. I blog because I want to encourage other people to write their truth - whatever that means to them.
Yes!! You nailed it. I totally identify with that tug and pull of my characters and/or my truth. And isn't it SO rewarding when someone identifies and connects with them? Thanks for sharing!
My entire life I was told I was a writer. As a child, a student, a young adult and on. "You're a writer!" people would say. "Write!" "You've had such an interesting life - you should write about that" and so on. But it wasn't until I completed my graduate work (in my late 40's) and wrote a dissertation on the psychology of home, understanding how people connect to places and people, that I finally felt I had something to write about. Something unique. Something that I could speak to from my own experience. Something that would truly be of value to others.
My struggle as a writer is that I don't write out of vanity. I don't write just to be published. I don't write to hear my own thoughts. I write only when I genuinely think that what I'm writing will actually be useful to others. The most difficult part of that has been accepting that sharing my personal story is helpful to others. I'm more inclined to keep the personal separate. But, it seems from the feedback I've received, that what I write has much more impact when I relate it to my own experience.
What a noble reason to write! I look forward to reading more of your work. To be honest, I find that writing about my own experiences (especially the struggles) seems to connect me more with readers than anything else. I tend to think there's a primal need for humans to understand how we get ourselves out of the hardest times, and that hearing others' stories of hardship and perseverance is inspiring and even life-saving. I also think that writing about myself is sometimes easier than writing about anything else, since I know *me* better than anyone. Maybe that's seen as vanity...but I see it as a comfort zone and even a bit of laziness (for instance, I'm more of an expert on me than on most other things...). I hope that's not vanity. lol. I think there's inherent value in sharing our personal stories, and I'm so glad that others have convinced you to see the positive impact when you relate your experience. GREAT to meet you, and keep writing!
You are absolutely right, Christine - sharing our own stories is indeed inspiring and potentially life-saving. My issue with vanity is an old demon born of an old wound from a family member who loves me but... I did not mean to imply that memoirists write out of vanity. Far from it. Writing is powerful and I believe the purpose of life is to connect. Writing, like all art, holds amazing potential for authentic connection. When we are authentic in our sharing we reach the hearts of others. And THAT is noble!
I write to connect with people. I love vulnerable storytelling because it's a reminder that we are all deeply human and the same.The best way to get to know somebody is through a story.