What compels you to write? Life. Everything. Anything. Why do you write? I write … because. Because I love it, because I can. Sure, they’re not always the best words, or the right words, and the stories never emerge anywhere near as good as they were when they were just a concept, but it’s the act of creating something out of nothing that compels me. You have a wonderful and varied language, all the words you could ever need, you have an idea, and it’s up to you do to do the best you can do with all of that. There’s nothing quite like looking at a story you’ve written, and thinking, I did that, or of seeing characters that started off as a vague plan in the back of your head talk and breath and take on a life of their own. And, yeah, it probably stops me from going crazy, because half the time my mind’s bursting at the seams with characters and plots and little random stories and scenes. What makes you write what you write? Honest answer? I have no idea. My brain? Half-formed characters leaping up and down in the back of my mind, screaming ‘Tell my story! My story!’? Emotions, sometimes? *shrugs* What made you decide you liked to write? I don’t think I can pinpoint a conscious decision to start writing, or a moment I thought ‘Hey, this writing thing is great!’ - I’ve written since I was young. There’s (Hysterically nonsensical) crayon-written ‘stories’ and ‘poems’ from when I was around six lurking somewhere in the deep, dark recesses of my cupboards. One moment I can remember as giving me some real determination to put as much effort as I could into my writing, and to improve until I reached the best of my ability, was one of my English teachers. He took me aside one day and said ‘Have you ever considered being a writer?’ I’m not someone who has a great deal of self-confidence, and it made me think that being a writer might not be such a wild, stupid dream after all. It may sound cheesy, but if I ever manage to publish a book, the dedication will, trust me, be to that teacher. What Do You Write? Anything. I like experimenting in most of the different genres. I write the stories I want to tell, and they can be about anything and everything.
Why do I personally write? Man that can be taken as a loaded question. There are many reasons why I write. To express my feelings. To be good at something, even though I'm not the smartest person out there. To be able to see those reviews that in sum total say 'You did a good job. Nice work.' But those are just the basic reasons as to why I write. I started writing because of a very dear and wonderful friend. I have a hard time speaking my thoughts. My brain goes to fast for my mouth and it makes it hard to speak out about things. Writing lets me put those feelings, thoughts and urges into words while creating something with my own hands, so to speak. What makes me write what I write? Now that's something that I really don't know. I can't seem to write anything with heterolsexual characters, excuse my spelling. I can read and edit stories with straight characters, but I can't write. I think it's probably because I tried so hard to write straight characters, both in my fanfiction and my originals that I go tired of it. I couldn't do it any more so I now write slash, or stories with homosexual characters. Now as to what made me decide that I liked to write, well, probably the same reason why I do write. Because it lets me express what I can't express by speaking. It came easily to me, and even though I'm still learning and can get my tenses mixed up, a problem for me, I like it and I try not to get discouraged. What do I write. Anything, like others have said. My characters are usually either gay or bi, with a smattering of straight characters. But so far, I rather enjoy writing a mix of horror, fantasy, mystery and erotica.
Why I write? Writing to me is a form of self expression. I do not write for any particular reason. I just need a pen and a paper, and I just write anything. It's like a snapshot of my thoughts at any given point of time. It helps me recollect things, recollect, and recompose my self. Best of all like photographs record how I looked once upon a time, what I write, is how I thought once upon a time. Its a snapshot of my thoughts, as I just said before. And its nothing special in particular, just words arranged in a particular manner, they may mean something to someone, and may sometimes look like jumbled words too. Sometimes, when I am in a different phase of mind all together, I just laugh and say to myself, "What the hell was I thinking when I was writing that?" I end up learning something new about myself, which perhaps I overlooked before. After all the mirror on my dressing table does not tell me who I am. So I look into my words, and try to deconstruct myself, my life, my thoughts, my feelings from there in, and thats all there is to my writing. It's me.
Im compelled to write because most of my writing has a underlying point to it, which I want the world to see.I love sharing my views, and I express it through poetry. I write because it's something I know Im fairly good at, even though Im definetly not the best. I also genuinely enjoy writing. Writing is also an escape from the world. Its a place of little judgement, freedom of speech-and peace. I write what I write because I want to express myself through writing. I started writing because of an English teacher I had who told me I should write for fun on the side of regualr class. I write poetry.
As if I know why. All I know is, I have felt like I should since I was about four. I used to draw pictures and write stories to go with those pictures. I wrote so many "children's books" from the time I was four to about the time I was eleven. I had a specific book series with the main character named Terry (after my mom), and she had a group of friends. They encountered typical kid problems and everything was always solved in the end. The whole thing was so done and typical. But it was very cute of me, I'm told. I used to create them as if they were already published, with fake reviews and everything. I made my parents sit down in the living room and listen as I did a "book reading", lol. I was a charming little girl. From there, I wrote actual short stories and then a novel. By the time I was twelve, I had finished a full novel-length story. It was similar to the Terry series, only slightly better, obviously, since I was a little older. I moved on from that, deciding to go in a different direction. I began to write darker stuff as I got older and I got mixed up in fanfiction, as well. Now, now .... I don't really write. Not nearly as much as I used to, when I was in school. Lately, I have made a habit of at least trying to get some chunks of words down. I have so many ideas and plans, but it's hard for me to keep my patience. I'm almost never satisfied. So, anyway, why I write. I don't know. I just almost always have. I write better than I do many other things. I think it's just in my blood, I guess. My brother is a published author. My father was a published author/poet. My grandmother on my fathers side was a published poet. I think I express myself much better with written word than spoken word. Orally, I'm such an idiot, a big mess. I almost never make any sense, lol. I guess I write, because it's the truest form of expression I have. How cliche-sounding, but it's very true. All I know is my biggest life goal, is to publish a novel before I die. Even one. I would prefer to publish several, but one would be enough. To know it was printed and put for sell, and then someone out there bought the book and read my story and formed an opinion on it, potentially liked it, perhaps hated it ..... it would mean so much to me.
My answer is pretty simple, really. I write because I love it. It gives me a sense of accomplishment, and creates a good feeling, so I keep at it. Of course, there are frustrating times too--the kind of times where you sit down at the computer and your mind goes blank. But I try just to force myself to write through it, and eventually everything grows smooth again. Make sense?
I write because when I talk most people I know don't understand me. I write because I have thoughts that I could never let people I know know about. I write because I don't know what to think. I write because I do think. I write because I'm shy.
I write because I know I am a writer. I have always written well, and my dreams are like full blown novels. I never run out of ideas for books and have 3 stories I develop on and off over the last 6 years or so. Writing for me is fun. I think the problem is that once I get into a groove I get scared. Maybe I really suck. Maybe no one would want to read this. Maybe the bookstore is full of people who think they can write who's books are never sold. What happens if I actually finish a book and submit it to agents and publishers? And the rejection notices come. And my heart breaks a little every time I am rejected. Then, am I really a writer? Or am I delusional and naiive? Perhaps I should just write for myself and not worry about all that publishing stuff. Maybe if I take all that end game pressure off I can just have fun with the characters and my kids might read it someday and laugh. ~SS
What compells you to write? I am compelled to write by names, places, pictures, other stories, history, anything really. Usually though, it is a name. Not a real one for the most part, but a random jumble of letters that makes itself out in my head. Then I pick a gender, a personality, a conflict, and other characters. I make an entire story out of a single name. Sometimes I also take a real name and shift a letter. I made a whole story about a spaceship that crashed on a distant planet, the struglle to survive, and how technology shifted, history was lost, and creatures were mutated simply because I changed the "s" in Thomas to an "i." Why do you write? I write merely because it is fun. Not just fun to write, but also fun to watch pages fill up and especially to share it. My favorite part of writing is listening to feedback, good or bad, from my readers. What makes you write what you write? I don't know. What made you decide you liked to write? When I was younger, everyone had active imaginations. I had one of the most active of my friend and thus I picked the games we'd play at recess. However, as I've grown, others' imaginations seem to diminish and so, instead of telling people, I write it down. What do you write? I will write fiction, science fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, christian fiction, non-fiction, romance, etc. Basically anything. Give me a subject and I'll write about it. No, seriously, PM me with a subject, give me parameters and I will write it.
I write because I have found it's something I like doing. It's a way for me to deal with thoughts and feelings, a place where I can be myself. It doesn't matter if it's fiction or when I write in my journal, it all is a kind of way for me to sort myself out.
Like the previous posts, Writing is the one thing I enjoy more than anything else and I have felt all of the same emotions about it as each of you have expressed. I also think it helps me to understand others better and for those few I allow to read my stuff, to understand me, if that is possible. Here is an example: Recently my mom was trying to make a change in her life for the better and finding it extremely difficult. She'd almost beaten a particular problem she'd had for a very long time when it reared its ugly head and she fell back into it. I was very upset and said something stupid and made her cry and she said, "Daisy, you will never be able to understand what it is like." So, I asked her to tell me how it really felt and afterwards I wrote her a story where the MC was me, but with my mom's problem, trying desperately to change. And she cried happy tears when I gave her the story and hugged me really tight. Without the story, I don't think I could have shown her that I really did understand how hard it was for her and that I was proud of her for trying. And so... we are closer... thanks to writing.
Daisy, I can kinda related with you. I like to write because it offers a creative outlet for my restless mind. I love the idea of being a creator, making a workable system of imagined ideas - ideas that would have little or no obvious relation with each other. My writing often reflects my viewpoint on the idea that the world is a chaotic place, that, by some standard or accepted form of sanity, makes sense - never always, however. Sometimes I feel like a mad scientist when I'm hastily putting down ideas.
I've been writing since I was a little kid. As for what compells me to write....well, my characters have their stories that need to be told. Some of them are asking me to tell their stories. Others don't care. They all have their stories, and it would be a shame not to tell them. It's a wonderful feeling when I can really see the story unfolding, too, and getting to know the characters is probably the best part.
For me, its always been a challenge. Because I always have to be the one to prove that I can outshine someone else. I know, that probably sounds so silly, but its a defining character flaw of mine. I've learned to deal with it.
I write, simply because i like to keep my mind active. I think of stuff, and then i create them by writing it down... by writing it down i than think of some more cool stuff/ideas and so fourh. Keeping one's mind active and healthy is important, and i do this by writing. Its also fun, and challenging. Oh, and secondly, when i write, i try to be close to correct. WIth this i do some research which helps me learn new things that i never really understood before.
What compells you to write? The little people in my head won't shut up. Why do you write? Because if I don't I'm miserable. What makes you write what you write? I started writing a story for my Grandson and somewhere along the way the characters took over and became real. What Made you decide you liked to write? I'm still not sure/ I don't know. What Do You Write? Fiction/ the move in my head keeps growing....I need a doctor.
I write because I have to. I write because if I didn't, I'd go utterly insane. The only thing I write is poetry, (so far atleast) mainly because I think poetic language is beautiful, and expressing my views and my expierences through poetry is my form of expression. I've also gotten into painting a bit, but I spend much more time writing.
I write because I am a masochistic moron who does not know what it best for me for when I should stop and walk away. So I write just to torture myself and it costs less then hiring a dominatrix to whip me five times a week.
What compells you to write? I don't know, honestly. Probably because I need a creative way to get ideas out of my head. Why do you write? In fact, I write because I can't go even a few hours without thinking up some ultra-cool plot for a story. Then I get out my notebook, and my mother kills me for not finishing my chores. What makes you write what you write? Either Music, other books, or people I know in my life. Maybe an article I read in a paper, or something I saw on the news. Anything can inspire me, in fact, I was doing my business in the bathroom and thought what it would be like to be sucked down a whirlpool and into another world by flushing the toilet. What Made you decide you liked to write? When I was little, I used to write small books called 'Sugar and her Dog', and sell them for about 10 cents to my parents. When I was a bit older, about 7, I wrote a 4000 word story entitled 'Sugar's Pokemon Adventure'. And I always loved keeping a diary, so... What Do You Write? Almost anything. Romance, Horror, Fantasy, and Animal Fiction are my favorites. Though Animal Fiction would have to be my ultimate favorite, though it's quite dead.
It all traces back to my ancient heritage with vampire fanatics and involves a rather nasty plot to assassinate all of my aunts, but I can sum it up; Not writing would be like committing suicide via drinking too much milk straight from the utter of a cow.
Why you write is something likened to why you do what you do in day today life and there is no particular answer to it, like why you eat, why you drink, why you sleep and marry. All you on your own accord, and do it naturally and spontaneously. I do not see writing is anything different than what you do in the ordinary course of life, like having someone to accompany with you or to fall in love with or to be wedded to. The desire for writing runs in the vein and capillary inundated in blood. And can you do or pull off without it. I took to writing when I was a mere kid of eight and I read some piece and started emulating but very badly but I called them poetry. I showed them to elders and they laughed off. It was ludicrous. I was sad at the goof I thought I have made. I was adrift with spurts of emotion and when some one ridiculed me and reduced me to a nothing I was taken aback to swear I would give. But I did not and continued after a pause and carried out to this length and width now. I matured in age, in experience and of course in creativity. Now I write prolifically. But it does not mean I am popular and of course to be popular I have to pass mileages. But I am a tireless and assiduous writer and I can not stop writing. I am married to writing, drunk with it and writing has been an integral part of my life. If you again ask me why I write, my answer will be, as always is, to live and of course to accentuate the fact that I exist and I exist and my writing entrenches and validates the fact that I exist. Now you can figure out why I write. And still if you have something to ask I will entail the facts.
