Why Do You Write?

Welcome to The Learning Curve. I am chronicling my journey as a new writer in hopes of inspiring you to put that bag of chips down, step away from the television, and tell the world a good story.

Why Do You Write?

What do you need in order to make your life seem complete? Is there a single goal to accomplish, perhaps a lifelong dream that you need to achieve? If fame and fortune are on your bucket list, then I wish you luck. You’re going to need it, especially if you plan to accomplish this as a writer.

I know. You’ve heard it all before. Being a writer is hard work and the pay sucks. Why do it then? Do you think you’re different, that your stories are better than some of those on the bestseller lists? Have you already picked out the Ferrari that will whisk you from one book signing to another? In the immortal words of Aerosmith, dream on.

You probably have a better chance of being struck by lightning than writing a bestselling novel that will generate the type of income to buy a luxury sports car. So, I ask again, why even bother?

That’s always been an easy question for me to answer. I write because it’s a dream of mine to publish a novel. It’s my dream, and it’s not dependent upon anyone other than myself. Even if my book(s) don’t sell, then I will still have succeeded in accomplishing a lifelong goal.

If you write for a different reason, or hope to make an income out of it, that’s fine; but you should at least know why you write.

A relative of mine, at a recent family gathering out of state, asked what I had been up to since we last saw each other. It’s a typical question tossed about between people separated by time and distance, and I should have been prepared for it. I wasn’t. Without even thinking about it, I began to describe my dream of writing a novel, even going so far as to give a synopsis of some of the stories I’m working on.

It was great being able to share my adventure with someone that is an avid reader. What I didn’t expect though, after ten minutes of describing what the stories were about, was a puzzled look followed by, “Yeah, but why do you want to write?”

I thought I had mentioned the reason first before launching into my book report. Thinking they must not have heard me, I told them again, “Because it’s always been a dream of mine to publish a novel.”

No, they heard me the first time. They understood that it was a goal, but they wanted to know why. “Why is writing and publishing a novel your dream?”

I was stunned. That’s the first time someone has ever asked me to detail the reason for writing on a subconscious level. And it really was subconscious, as I can’t remember giving it a passing thought. Yes, it’s a dream, but why? I didn’t have an answer at the time, so, I told them I would get back to them on it. It’s not often that someone leaves me speechless. I didn’t bother telling anyone else at our family gathering what I’ve been doing for the past year.

The question was on my mind the rest of the day, and the next. With an eight hour car trip home I figured I would eventually come to a conclusion with that much time to think. I didn’t.

It wasn’t until later in the evening when I crawled into bed and opened the iPad to the current book I was reading that the answer finally came to me. The book, Death of a Kingdom, by M. Edward McNally, is the second in The Norothian Cycle series. About three quarters of the way through the story it suddenly occurred to me why I’ve always wanted to write a book. Not for fame or fortune, but for the emotion. That feeling you get when you’re reading a really good book, can’t put it down, need to tell someone about it, the wow factor.

The reason I write is to give that feeling to others. I want to take them on an adventure they will never forget. So, I ask you again. Why do you write?

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K.D. Rush is a Contributing Author for Indies Unlimited. He is currently working on a book of short stories, as well as his debut novel, The Guild Inc., a supernatural thriller. For more information please see the IU Bio page and visit his website: http://KDRush.net or find him on Twitter @KD_Rush.

Author: K.D. Rush

KD Rush is a South Carolina native currently working on several short stories and his debut novel, The Guild Inc., a supernatural thriller. He documents his writing journey at his blog, and here at Indies Unlimited in a monthly column called The Learning Curve. He also tweets daily at @KD_Rush.

55 thoughts on “Why Do You Write?”

  1. Great post! You pretty much have echoed my feelings. My two main reasons for writing are the sheer joy it brings me to write, and to make that connection to the reader just as my favorite authors/stories have done with me.

    1. Thanks Brian. There are at least a dozen answers that I came up with for wanting to write. Many of these are from my adult years. I had to experience that feeling from childhood, while reading a good book, before it finally hit me like a pie in the face.

      Thanks for stopping by to comment mate. It's much appreciated.

  3. I agree KD. It's all that for me, too. But I have two more. One is that the story needs to be told; it won't let me go until I tell it. the other is that writing is something I can say I did, me, all me, all my own. Yes,there are those that support me, offer suggestions, etc., but in the end this is my personal accomplishment, the only one that no one else can lay claim to. If that sounds crazy so be it.

    2. Not crazy at all Yvonne. There's no better feeling in the world than creating something from nothing, especially when it's a new world. 😉

  4. I write because it's the only way I can make sense of the world. It's as though nothing is real until I've turned it into a tall tale. When I'm not writing, the world is only half there, which also might be crazy.

    1. Yeah, that's crazy. Just kidding. 😉 I've often found myself looking at a real life event and wondered what type of story I could mold around it. Save me a little white jacket. I'm 'write' there with you sister.

  6. It seems that every once in a while someone asks that question in one way or another, KD. I can’t remember the exact words I used last time to describe the feelings the question stirs; however, all of the answers and comments the gang comes up with resonate with me. I do remember one comment I made, because it’s something I say when I don’t really want to get into a big philosophical debate with a relative or friend who isn’t a writer: writers write, that’s what they do. Most of my life I made my living doing something else, but I have always written. It isn’t like we really have a choice; writers write.

      1. Any time, KD. Glad you enjoyed the Sneak Peek and, yes, I certainly got lucky when I scored Zoë. By the way she says hi and thanks for the compliment.

  7. You hit the nail on the head KD. I love to be taken away by a good book. My novel has followed me around for most of my life, waiting to be published. My sister was the first person to buy my book. She doesn't read fantasy so you know why she bought it, lol. A week later she called and said "I didn't know you could do this. I've been on an adventure without ever leaving my chair."

    That response and others I have received like it have made this journey worthwhile. Would I still write without those comments? The answer is yes. The need is stronger than the person typing this comment.

    1. Virginia, I loved the line, “I didn’t know you could do this." The only thing better than a loyal fan is being related to one. 😉

      Speaking of fans, I just read the blurb for your book 'Fracture' and it sounds exciting. I've put it on my reading list, though it may be a few months before I can get to it. http://goo.gl/K1X6p

      Thanks for stopping by to comment. Write on sister!

  8. what a great question! And my answers echo some already posted here.

    I feel more myself, more alive and energized when I'm writing than when I'm not. So its very much a for me myself and I experience while the writing goes on.

    However, once I let a story out of my hands, I realize again that I'm writing to get the response of a reader or readers. And I don't mean just … oh, that was terrific, either. I mean … what they didn't like, too. Or worse, what kept them from reading the whole story, cause I write long ones, novellas, novels, and only rarely a short story.

    And last, I have the same dream of holding in my own two hands a published book that me myself and I wrote all on 'our' own. That we created, so that someone else can open that book and come along on the path we walked to get there, or… take off on a tangent from where and what we've written. Only if they don't get it at all do I feel downhearted, because that means I failed as a storyteller.

    1. I've had that same dream for a long time. I remember my first bookshelf (one that was all mine) and thinking that my books would be there one day. The idea of someone reading a book that I wrote has been a lifelong dream.

      On your blog you mention that you don't want to call yourself an 'author' until you've actually had a book published. I feel the same way. Instead of 'author', how do you feel about 'author in training'? 😉

      Looking forward to your first published book. Thanks for stopping by bear. Stay in touch.

  9. I think you have an insightful relative, Mr. Rush. My relatives would have laughed and said that I should find something productive to do with my spare time. Luckily my friends have been supportive but perhaps it is because I seem so in love with the process of writing. Your post, as always has given me a lot to think about! Why I write? Hmmmm…

    1. In summary: I write because there are people whose stories I want to tell. I want to give light to other points of views, other ways of seeing the world. I write because I love the creativity and freedom that fiction writing gives me to explore worlds that are not my own, and the opportunity to find common ground among all of us.

    2. This particular relative is in her 80's, and insightful doesn't even come close. Other than my youngest daughter, she is the only one in the family that sleeps as little as I do. Reading is not only a hobby for her, it's a necessity. She's also one of the smartest women I've ever met.

      I sent her an email before I wrote this article and told her , "I HAVE AN ANSWER!" 😉

  10. An interesting post. I write for many reasons. I get a thrill from having a story of mine accepted and an even bigger thrill from seeing it published and watching readers react to it. (So far, I've been very fortunate that most such reactions have been positive. But I try to remember that even negative reactions might help me learn something.)

    I also hope that there's an aspect of my writing that will somehow live on after I'm gone. I have a collection of old pulp and digest magazines. While many of the writers from those pages are dead and (mostly) forgotten, their words are still there and sometimes I'm inspired to go research an unfamiliar writer after reading one of their stories. Admittedly, with the rise of eBooks I don't know if this will hold true as well as it did for physical books and magazines.

    One of the biggest things for me, though, has been enjoying being part of the community of writers and readers on Twitter and other sites. I've met a lot of fantastic people who, by nature, tend to have something interesting to say. It's made my days a little brighter.

    1. Michael, those are great reasons my friend. Leaving a part of yourself behind in the stories that you write is a good legacy. And I agree about the writing community aspect as well. I've met some wonderful people on this adventure.

      And hey… good luck with your new book, 'Write Every Day' http://goo.gl/Y4sq3 – I can think of no better advice to give a new writer. Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment!

    2. E.!!!! Thanks for stopping by sir. And thank you again for that wonderful guest post on my blog!

      The best advice for newbies such as myself, "Shut The (#%$#)Up and Write" – http://goo.gl/fS5tp – Great post mate.

      😉

  12. You bring up a deep question. One I have asked myself and fellow authors many times and I have made an interesting discovery. That one question is what separates the "I am writing" crowd from the "I am a writer" crowd.

    My personal quest starting over 30 years ago. Like everyone here I found when I wrote my world made sense and I was in control. When the real world was spinning out of control my writing kept me focused.

    It took the death of my mother to realize that dreams don't just come true; there has to be a little action involved.

    As I shared my stories I found they touched people and I never looked back. Will I be a famous author? maybe but I learned a valuable lesson from Tracy Hickman. He said there are people all over the world who have never heard of him but "if I change the life of one person I am a successful writer".

    So why do I write? To touch that one person, to change that one life, to have that one person stay up all night because they can't put my book down.

    I was lured into the vanity press trap and drove myself nuts trying to figure out how I could come up with the money. Then I was rescued by a fellow new writer and turned toward indie publishing.

    My debut novel The Enemy Within has been released for a few weeks and yes I am struggling to pull it out of the bottem but it is there and I will get it to the top.

    1. Lynette, you have a line on your blog that reads, "It is time to stop chasing a dream and challenge a reality." – I love it!

      Good luck with your new book 'The Enemy Within' http://goo.gl/lvY8d – It sounds interesting, and right along the lines of the series I'm currently reading.

      Thanks for stopping by, and for taking the time to comment. I really appreciate it!

    3. I can't wait to do reviews for these books. They have a solid story and characters that pull you from page to page. I'm also holding you responsible for my lack of writing this past week. Seriously. These books of yours have cost me at least a day and a half. I just hope I can return the favor one day.

      🙂

      Write on brother!

  14. I write for the same reason I draw. I don't know how *not* too. Or how to shut up the voices in my head. Writing/drawing is such an intrinsic part of myself that, if someone were to take the ability away from me, I'd probably wind up in an "I love me" jacket in a padded room. WHY I write is because I have too. The stories are there and I want to tell them. Whether they're good or not is for others to judge. I'm in it for the fun and the journey.

  15. K.D., your answer to this question is pretty close to my own answer. But I want to tell you how I came about this answer. I was seven years old and had just started reading "chapter books." I remember reading Charlotte's Webb and some book about animals in the woods who could communicate with others. I remember laying on the couch or sprawling on my bed for hours, totally immersed in these stories. I felt captured–in a good way. I knew then that I wanted to be a writer to make others feel that same emotion. However, after reading John Irving's book, A Prayer For Owen Meany, I felt a deep connection with the author. I felt grateful that he wrote that story. That story, as well as A Tree Grows In Brooklyn so impressed my young life, I absolutely KNEW I had to connect with other readers that way. So while I want to make others feel that emotion, like you mentioned, I want to go a little further and state that it's emotion for a connection. Makes the world seem a little smaller, a little more safe.

    1. Touché. Bethany, that's the power of a good book. I believe it's also why blogs are becoming commonplace today. That need to connect with other people, regardless of where they are, is a strong force. Perhaps one day the entire world will speak 'bloggish' – And – I love yours by the way. http://projectwhitespace.com

    1. I figured there would be a few responses to the question, but the passion behind the answers caught me off-guard.

      It's great getting to meet some new faces in the community too. I love Indies Unlimited. It reminds me of "Cheers" for writers.

      😉

  17. Great question, but every time I try to answer it, I sound like a pretentious ass! Or at the very least, a cliché-riddled one. So I'll just mutter something under my breath about shining a light in the darkness and skulk out the back door.

    1. David, we must have link or something. I've typed and deleted this answer several times and can't come up with anything better than how KD expressed it. Maybe I would have thrown in a metaphor about tasting life twice or headlights in the dark, but otherwise, perfect!

      1. Yes! Ooh, and that reminds me of another reason: to connect with someone else, even if it's only one person, and even if you don't always know it!

    2. At least you have an answer banging around in your head. 😉

      It took me nearly two days to dig deep enough into my childhood dreams before I could answer it truthfully. I can trace my desire to write all the way back to Tolkien. McNally helped me to recapture this, and put a solid foundation underneath the dream.

      When you have an attentive reader holding your book, then you have them in the palm of your hands. You can evoke emotions on an epic scale, leave them breathless, joyous or heartbroken. For a short while, your world is the center of theirs.

      Thanks for stopping by to comment David!

  18. For me it's simple. I've never found anything else in life that gives me the same high, that same jolt of adrenalin that I get when I finish a story. Some people find their highs parachuting off tall buildings, riding the waves, racing Formula ! cars or walking a tightrope across Niagara Falls. They're hard-wired for risk and adventure. Me? I'm hard-wired for pulling out my bag of words and arranging them lovingly on a page. Cowabunga, dude.

  19. I write because of the satisfaction it gives me. I started at age 6 and have never stopped. Making at least a meagre living at it would free me from drudgery to write more.

    1. Jaq, if we could all make a living from our creative endeavors alone then the world might be a happier place; a little less chaotic perhaps.

      😉

      By the way, you have one of the most interesting sites, and books, that I've come across this week. Cheers my friend. http://www.jaqdhawkins.co.uk/

  20. Let me tell you a story that illustrates why I write.

    In the midst of the first draft of "SwanSong," I got on a roll one day. It was one of those great times when the words are coming easily, the characters are behaving themselves, and the writing just flows. You know what I mean, right? It's like you're nothing but a conduit that the words are flowing through.

    But on this particular day, in the midst of the flow, suddenly I stopped dead and went, "Whoa." Because I realized that I had just tapped into something surprisingly deep and, without being consciously aware of it, I'd discovered a personal truth by writing it from my main character's point of view.

    Luckily, it worked for her, too, and so I left it in.

    But: going deep, and discovering, and being the conduit. That's why I write.

    1. Lynne, thank you for sharing that! I would love to have a moment like this while writing. One day perhaps.

      By the way, the new trailer looks good. I left a comment on your blog about some video software suggestions.

      Thank you again for taking the time to comment. I enjoyed it.

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