I write a lot. I write a lot of words and they end up in a lot of places.
A lot of what I write ends up online, easily half of it. And the stuff that doesn’t? Well, it ends up in files on my computer.
Of course I hope to those other words published some day.
But even if that never happens, I still have to write.
Why?
I’m so glad you asked. I have many reasons.
Let’s start with relaxation. I have one of those minds that just bounces around. But when I write, especially fiction, my mind tracks straight and true.
And believe it or not, that’s really relaxing for me.
Also …
When I have issues to resolve, writing about them helps me put them in perspective. I can see what is and what isn’t important to me by how I portray each part of an issue.
Additionally, I often discover resolutions I hadn’t thought of previously when I’m writing about something. It’s almost like my brain is two people in a debate and my writing is a third party that can weigh in.
How does that work? Yeah, I have no idea. But try it, if it works for you and gets you to start writing then yay.
My imagination is …
Yes, it is. It’s always on, often running away to strange places. When I’m writing, I feel a lot better about that. It’s like it’s a tool, a really useful one. It’s like my imagination was meant to be a part of this whole process.
And not only does my imagination help me with my fiction writing, my fiction writing helps me keep my imagination sharp. Sharp tools are important no matter what your craft is.
And before you tell me you have no imagination, let me tell you that you most certainly do, and if you want to be able to use it you need to sharpen it and if you want to sharpen it you need to use it (see above), so get writing.
Life itself!
Ha! Drama much? But I must say, as dramatic as that heading is, it’s true, one hundred percent true.
If I didn’t write, I’d feel like I was wasting my life. I’d feel like I was letting my mother down, my grandmother too. I’d feel like I was wasting my life.
Sure I’m mostly just a hack plugging away on content for sites, but that’s just to keep sharp … and to eat.
If I didn’t write every day, I’m pretty sure I’d be unhappy with my life as a whole, depressed, angry, probably drinking and gambling and committing petty crimes. Well, maybe not quite that bad, but the threat of being unhappy would be enough of a reason to keep me writing.
I hope I made you feel like writing, I made myself want to get right back at it I can tell you. I’m feeling happier just thinking about it.
