Why We Write

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Why We Write

Why do you write? Do you ever wonder why your favorite authors write? Let’s explore why writers write, and how some become authors and others don’t.

Why do writers write? The psychology behind both creative and technical writing.

One of my favorite writing educators online is K. M. Weiland and if you aren’t following her ,newsletter you should. She wrote an article ,4 (Possible) Reasons Why We Write

She found that what the compulsion to write is ineffable (too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words) isn’t that a great word. We just do it and we all have our own reasons. I found a book on Amazon ,Why We Write: 20 Acclaimed Authors on How and Why They Do What They Do by Meredith Maran. Contributing authors include:

Isabel Allende

David Baldacci

Jennifer Egan

James Frey

Sue Grafton

Sara Gruen

Kathryn Harrison

Gish Jen

Sebastian Junger

Mary Karr

Michael Lewis

Armistead Maupin

Terry McMillan

Rick Moody

Walter Mosley

Susan Orlean

Ann Patchett

Jodi Picoult

Jane Smiley

Meg Wolitzer

But back to ,K. M. Weiland’s 4 (Possible) Reasons Why We Write Writing joins us to a community of the link and unlike Writing lets us unmask ourselves... to ourselves. Writing Tells us Who we are and what life we’re living Writing lets us speak the truth.,The University of Nottingham of the UK attempts to give a more concrete reason why we write.

“The primary reason for writing anything is to communicate with others, to stimulate interest or action from the reader. You may also use writing to help you to reflect on your experiences and learn from them. While at University a key way of assessing the progress and learning of students is via the written work you produce.When we write, therefore, we are either writing for ourselves or we are writing for others.

Writing for ourselves

When we write for ourselves it helps us to think, learn and understand. Writing for ourselves is a private affair though it may be shared with others.

Writing for others

When we write for others it is usually for assessment or publication for a wider readership”

They give a few key benefits to writing

It is fixed and is therefore more permanent and you can keep going back to the piece to gain benefit from a reread. Looking at what you’ve written can help you learn more about your writing style. You are able to re-draft and refocus your message unlike spoken communication. Writing is something that you can constantly learn from, and cumulatively feedback and reflection can help you develop as a writer. Writing sometimes has more impact than other forms of communication.Colleen of Inspired Forward wrote an article ,30 reasons why writing is important in 2019 Writing is an essential communication skill Writing every day builds discipline Creative writing engages both sides of the brain It helps you think through problems Written word influences society We wouldn’t have our history without writing Everyone has a book inside of them Journaling benefits mental health You’re more likely to achieve written goals Improvements come from practice Well-written works are respected more All excellent communication stems from excellent writing Your thought will be more organized It gets your to-dos out of your head Writing clarifies your ideas for yourself and others The audience matters Writing forms bonds with others Writing is a legitimate career Writing is an important work skill Written reflection helps us define better paths forward Writing your fears and worries shrinks their impact Concise writing quickly transmits ideas Writing cements ideas Regular writing improves vocabulary and other communication skills For some, writing is a fun pastime Writing lets you explore other options Understanding how to write can help you read between the lines Every single company needs good writers Writing improves social skills No one else can write like youWant to write your novel in just two months? Join the 60-Day Novel Writing Challenge!

Author and editor Halie Fewkes (also my book editor!) hosts the ,60-Day Novel Writing Challenge four times a year.

Participants can upgrade to Professional Premium for group accountability coaching with me, and a chance for 1:1 attention on your mindset about writing.

,Click here to join the waitlist!

Why do some writers become authors but others don’t?

Sharon Zink wrote an article about this very subject, 97% of Writers Never Finish Their Novels: Here’s Why

Starting a novel when you’ve never even finished a short story before. Personally I disagree with this one because most of us have been in some form of education and I’m sure we’ve asked to write poems, short stories, and essays as an assignment. Also this doesn’t take into fact that a short story format is handled differently than a novel or novella format. Just kinda sorta wanting to write a book. I agree I’ve heard that the difference between a writer and a author is that the author sits in the chair even when the writing gets hard. Like any other form of skill it requires regular discipline. Thinking planning is for towns not books. I agree this kind of thinking does make writing a novel difficult. Yes some authors are successful pantsers (fly by the seat of their pants writers) often these authors have several books under their belt. It is suggested to plan out your novel there is a lot of prep work that goes into preparing for a successful novel. Believing that because you write, you need and deserve to be published. I disagree anyone has the right to be published hince the indie publishment movement yes some authors need to work on their developmental editing, line editing, and general editing but that doesn’t mean their dream isn’t achievable. ,How 9 Great Authors Almost Failed & Why You Shouldn’t Throw In The Towel Just Yet ,Get Inspired By These Author Success Stories ,10 Famous Authors Who Never Graduated from College