Why I Write by R.S. Guthrie
Rob Guthrie is my first guest blogger. I met Rob last summer through twitter, then email, and finally when he founded RABMAD (Read a Book Make A Difference - an organization of writers who donate a percentage of their royalties to charity). Since we first met, we've become great friends, and I'm a better person because of it. It was only natural, when I decided to try guest blogging, that Rob was my first choice playmate.
We've each blogged on the topic - Why I write.
Here's Rob -
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Why I Write by R.S.Guthrie
When asked this question, as I was recently in being invitedto guest blog on the subject with my great writer pal Bert Carson (THANKS,BERT!), it always gives me pause. Not because the reasons are too deep or dark;not because there is no answer; but rather because it's a bit like answeringthe question "why do you breathe?"
Think about it.
Why do you breathe?
The answer is not, by the way, "to stay alive"—that is thereason why we must breathe. Thinkabout why you breathe. You certainlydon't have to think about it. Breathing is triggered by an automatic responsewith strength relative to the level of oxygen in the environment. That's whyyou don't have to think about it. Your body just does it. Above all else, in fact.
If you've never heard of them, freedivers are extreme sport individualswho attempt to reach incredibledepths while holding their breath (the record for men's free immersion dive wasset in 2010 at 380 feet—a breath that was held for over four minutes). The breathingresponse can be so strong for freedivers that ignoring the urge to take abreath becomes one of the biggest (and most critical) challenges thesesuperhuman breather-holders face.
Well, I can't say that my need to write is quite thatoverwhelming, but it really is something that has been in my bones since I canremember. It is truly an act that doeshelp me to survive—it relaxes me; allows me to release the words that have beenbuilding up inside me, needing escape; it also causes me an adrenaline-likeinflux of positive thought and confidence.
Why do I write, then?
To LIVE.
I actually wrote the following a few months ago:
"To the writer, the craft is like BREATHING. You'd neverforget to draw a breath; don't forget to WRITE."
I've since wanted to amend that statement. I'm no longerconvinced that those who feel writing deep in their souls would be capable of forgetting to write, any morethan a human being would be capable of forgetting to breathe. My previous statement implies a choice. There is nochoice. If you are a writer, you needto write.
Why do I write, then?
Because I MUST.
Every person has a voice. And it's not necessarily a vocalthing. I personally abhor public speaking. I hate doing it. It causes mestress, makes me ill—I'd just about rather do anything in this world than speakto an audience. But as a writer I want my words to be read by as many people asare willing. The dream would be thousands. Millions. So the writing is my voice; I do not require the use ofmy vocal chords to speak—I can do it by putting pen to paper (or finger tokeyboard).
Why do I write, then?
Because I have a VOICE.
Writing is a part of me. Perhaps the biggest part. And ithas been for all of my life. I could no sooner be myself without writing thanwithout my head or my heart or my hands. People cannot imagine what life wouldbe like without those things that make them who they are. I cannot imaginebeing me without the words flowing. Even if I were laid up in a bed,convalescent, unable to lift my hands, bereft of the power to move a finger orso much as speak a word, I would still have to write. I would do it on theinside, upon the walls of my mind. It wouldn't matter. The words would have toflow. The writing would have to go on, for as long as I went on.
Why do I write, then?
Because I AM writing;because writing is ME.
___________________________
Check out Rob's books on Amazon -
Check out Rob's Website - Check Rob's Blog for my thoughts on Why I Write and other great posts
We've each blogged on the topic - Why I write.
Here's Rob -
___________________________________
Why I Write by R.S.GuthrieWhen asked this question, as I was recently in being invitedto guest blog on the subject with my great writer pal Bert Carson (THANKS,BERT!), it always gives me pause. Not because the reasons are too deep or dark;not because there is no answer; but rather because it's a bit like answeringthe question "why do you breathe?"
Think about it.
Why do you breathe?
The answer is not, by the way, "to stay alive"—that is thereason why we must breathe. Thinkabout why you breathe. You certainlydon't have to think about it. Breathing is triggered by an automatic responsewith strength relative to the level of oxygen in the environment. That's whyyou don't have to think about it. Your body just does it. Above all else, in fact.
If you've never heard of them, freedivers are extreme sport individualswho attempt to reach incredibledepths while holding their breath (the record for men's free immersion dive wasset in 2010 at 380 feet—a breath that was held for over four minutes). The breathingresponse can be so strong for freedivers that ignoring the urge to take abreath becomes one of the biggest (and most critical) challenges thesesuperhuman breather-holders face.
Well, I can't say that my need to write is quite thatoverwhelming, but it really is something that has been in my bones since I canremember. It is truly an act that doeshelp me to survive—it relaxes me; allows me to release the words that have beenbuilding up inside me, needing escape; it also causes me an adrenaline-likeinflux of positive thought and confidence.
Why do I write, then?
To LIVE.
I actually wrote the following a few months ago:
"To the writer, the craft is like BREATHING. You'd neverforget to draw a breath; don't forget to WRITE."
I've since wanted to amend that statement. I'm no longerconvinced that those who feel writing deep in their souls would be capable of forgetting to write, any morethan a human being would be capable of forgetting to breathe. My previous statement implies a choice. There is nochoice. If you are a writer, you needto write.
Why do I write, then?
Because I MUST.
Every person has a voice. And it's not necessarily a vocalthing. I personally abhor public speaking. I hate doing it. It causes mestress, makes me ill—I'd just about rather do anything in this world than speakto an audience. But as a writer I want my words to be read by as many people asare willing. The dream would be thousands. Millions. So the writing is my voice; I do not require the use ofmy vocal chords to speak—I can do it by putting pen to paper (or finger tokeyboard).
Why do I write, then?
Because I have a VOICE.
Writing is a part of me. Perhaps the biggest part. And ithas been for all of my life. I could no sooner be myself without writing thanwithout my head or my heart or my hands. People cannot imagine what life wouldbe like without those things that make them who they are. I cannot imaginebeing me without the words flowing. Even if I were laid up in a bed,convalescent, unable to lift my hands, bereft of the power to move a finger orso much as speak a word, I would still have to write. I would do it on theinside, upon the walls of my mind. It wouldn't matter. The words would have toflow. The writing would have to go on, for as long as I went on.
Why do I write, then?
Because I AM writing;because writing is ME.
___________________________
Check out Rob's books on Amazon -
Check out Rob's Website - Check Rob's Blog for my thoughts on Why I Write and other great posts
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