Why do you write?

[[deleted user]]

I love this group for what it has the potential to be. I belong to a number of groups, here and elsewhere, who number their members in the thousands. There are a lot of views to share, to be sure, but if a topic is interesting, your voice tends to get lost in the sea of comments. With fifteen members, we have the potential to generate the kind of deep, meaningful discussions that go far into the night. Remember the ones you used to have sitting on the porch with your best friend in high school? Yeah, like that. I'd like to see that come about, and plan to make occasional attempts to spark one... kind of like this:

I was a child of the 50s, which means that I just caught the tail end of the old Victorian mores and attitudes as they were being swept out to make room for the modern era of snatchin' and grabbin', of "Me first, and f**k you!" I miss those times. More to the point, as a lifelong avid reader, I did my formative reading in the genre of adventure books for boys. This was at a time when villains were slimy, ladies had elegance, and the hero had perfect teeth. During the 60s when I was moving through my teenage years and into young adulthood, these stories were replaced by worlds where the heroes are broken, the women are sluts, and the villain has a legitimate grievance.

Now, I'm not saying these are poor stories. Far from it. They are layered, nuanced, and demand greater skill from their authors than those old-fashioned tales where Buck Steel always gets the best of Scurvy McFilth, and saves Susie Sweet in the bargain. But I miss those old "Boys' Own Adventure" stories dearly, like old friends who've moved away, never to be seen again, and since it's fairly obvious that no one else is going to write them, I'm making it my business to write them myself. And here's the funny thing: Unless a few dozen total strangers who don't know each other are lying through their teeth for no other reason than to boost my ego, everyone who reads these stories, and takes the time to leave a comment or write a review, LOVES them! I am humbled, honored, and blown away by turns. I had no idea that something so obsolete could strike such a chord with so many diverse people.

And that's why I write, for myself, but even more, for my fans. I don't know how many there are, other than that there are certainly less than a hundred, but all the effort, time, and sweat I put into these little fluff pieces are done for everyone who has let it be known that I have brought something into their lives that is worth having. Look, I'm not writing social commentary, at least not on purpose, and I'm not trying to change anyone's political party or world view. I'm just having fun, and it is tremendously gratifying to me to know that others are having fun with me. It is my privilege to set these tales before the public, and my delight that they have been delighted. I'm having a ball with this, and it multiplies my happiness to know that others are too.

How about you? What keeps you glued to the keyboard when any normal person would be sleeping, watching TV, or carousing? Do you, perhaps, have a story to tell?

I can't wait to hear it!

[Andrew]

I know this is a thread for soul searching and why we all write but what do you guys think of a book called Jack the Ripper vampire hunter with a steampunk twist?

[Andrew]

I think "post two" is a bit early to start derailing a thread, don't you, Andrew?

[Andrew]

What do you mean?

[Andrew]

Well, the topic is pretty clear, "Why do you write?" but the first post in reply is off the topic!

Anyway, I've just posted a new thread called "Random Chat", which we should have had from the start, so feel free to use it however you'd like to.

[Andrew]

I see what you mean my apologies

[Lee]

I write to make the words and ideas go somewhere outside of my head, and to share them with those who may enjoy them.
Why post-cyberpunk romance? Well, it's what I want to read, I can't find it, so I'd better write it!

[Bethany]

I read some quote once that said something like "if the kind of book you like isn't out there, then go write it". That's why I'm a writer. I want to add something to the world that other people might enjoy and take meaning from. And I also want to encourage other people to become writers even if what they like to write isn't mainstream. My writing often doesn't fit into one genre or another, and I have an unusual style of cover design, but it's been a hell of a fun time.