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Elizabeth Jasper
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Why Do We Do It?
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I can recall being thrilled over novels I read as a kid: The Hardy Boys, Captains Courageous, Treasure Island. Then one summer when I was about 14 I grabbed a pencil and a composition book (oh, you know the type: black and white leopard spot cover -- the type you'd take your pen and fill in all the white spots) and began writing a story about kids and their summer adventure. I recall the feeling of accomplishment when I wrote THE END.
I've been writing creatively for as long as I can remember. I've still got a play passport I made when I was 10 which had my occupation shown as "Author".Why do I write? I honestly don't know. The stories are in me. I've never suffered from writer's block (I don't really understand what it is), the ideas just seem to flow as though they are real people and events that I already know. I've almost finished my third proper novel and I already have 11 more planned.
I guess I would have to answer that I write because I love it. Sorry if that is too shallow an answer.
I've heard it said that you don't really pick writing, it picks you. I think in my case that's true. Who would purposely open themselves up to all the criticism and rejection in the quest for publication unless they were compelled to? I've gone without writing for various lengths of time throughout my life and I always end up going back to it.
Writing certainly picked me. I've fiddled with it for years, but it is HARD work. I finally just blew up one day & HAD to write. My wife & I were discussing a novel we'd both recently read & were disappointed in how little was said about the hero's horse even though she was more important in many ways than the hero. She was always obliquely mentioned without any details to ever make her real. It was just one too many times over the years of reading such mistakes with horses & farms.
I have to add here that I really don't find writing hard at all. I love writing and when I can find the time to sit and write the words/ideas/dialogue just flow. I even don't mind editing and making the corrections that my proofreaders point out.What I do find hard is finding enough time. With work and three kids, I really don't get enough time. If only I could work at it full time, I should be able to write 5-6 novels a year.
I had an idea. I started writing and as I did the words began to weave a story that, amazing to me, had a begining, a middle and an end. Even more amazing, were the endearing charectors I gave life to. I went on to finish my first book and then its sequel. I'm now working on a third book and still in awe that such stories, events, and charectors continue to have life through my imagination.
My reasons? Let's see...1. Because the annoying kid sitting next to me in grade eight said I couldn't do it and I was determined to make him eat his words.
2. Because it almost feels like a crime not to write something coherent when you can type at over 100 words per minute. It's like ignoring track when you can speed past a cheetah, or not using your pencil to make a point when it's easily past six inches (excuse the euphemism, trying to keep it PG).
3. Because I'm not very photogenic, and unlike actors or models, can conveniently excuse myself from the public eye by claiming I'm only here to write.
4. Because it impresses women everywhere after they ask, "So what do you do?" and I, like the perfect exaggerator that I am, respond with a half-assed attempt at modesty by replying, "Oh, nothing much, I just write books from time to time."
5. Because I can't time travel in real life and have to settle for a vicarious experience through my time travelling characters.
6. Because the alternative--speeding--leads to too many tickets.
7. Because the annoying kid sitting next to me in grade nine said I couldn't do it and I was determined to make her eat her words.
Because it's my one remaining vice if you don't count chocolate or caffeine.
WTF? You mean we don't HAVE to write?
Because I suck at everything else??? No, 'cause I'm only a teenager and my annoying sister and parents say that I can't.
That works. My only real job that gains me money and I will hopefully continue doing forever.
It's funny but I never planned to write. But when my life fell apart writing saved me. My first book was basically a way to get through loss, grief, and change. Sounds awesome right. But I did it with humor and I wrote it to help other divorced women. It did that.But that book taught me that I love to write and I'm a good story teller. I started full time writing in 2010 and I've written five novels. Two are published and three are in editing.
I never knew I could love something like this. Enjoy doing something like I do. Fall in love with the people I write about and be excited when I get a new idea.
I didn't plan on this...but I'm sure glad it found me!
Clementine wrote: "Because I suck at everything else??? No, 'cause I'm only a teenager and my annoying sister and parents say that I can't."Don't listen to anyone telling you that you can't. That's just their way of keeping you from doing what you love because they haven't been brave enough to do it themselves.
Lorena wrote: "It's funny but I never planned to write. But when my life fell apart writing saved me. My first book was basically a way to get through loss, grief, and change. Sounds awesome right. But I did it w..."Hi Lorena, My reason for writing is very similar to yours. My husband and I were losing our business and practically everything we owned. He would go to sleep exhausted at night, but I could not sleep. I'd be up all night and finally decided to do something with the time. I started to write and I found that in so doing, somehow my charectors actually comforted me. I chose as my main charector a vampire I named Sebastian. I know it probably sounds strange, but it was the one individual I considered being worse of than I was at the time. After all, he had lost his mortal existance and the love of his mortal life, and now he had to find a way to go on existing. I had to do the same.
Pletcha wrote: "Lorena wrote: "It's funny but I never planned to write. But when my life fell apart writing saved me. My first book was basically a way to get through loss, grief, and change. Sounds awesome right...."I truly believe our characters find us. They tell us their story and we write it down. That, in my opinon, is inspiration.
I 've always had this fascination for Marilyn Monroe. I always thought she was so misrepresented. That's why I wrote my most recent manscript...Marilyn had something to say.
And I also find that when these characters want to talk, they will bug you till you start typing. Does that happen to you?
Lorena wrote: "Pletcha wrote: "Lorena wrote: "It's funny but I never planned to write. But when my life fell apart writing saved me. My first book was basically a way to get through loss, grief, and change. Sound..."Yes, in fact, charecters I hadn't imagined at all often show up.
Pletcha wrote: "Lorena wrote: "Pletcha wrote: "Lorena wrote: "It's funny but I never planned to write. But when my life fell apart writing saved me. My first book was basically a way to get through loss, grief, an..."I know. Once I get an idea the book decides to be written. Like right now I have three books I could write but one book is ready for me to research and write it. They are like children sometimes, impatient and bossy. ;)
Lorena
That's wonderful that you have so many ideas to get started with. I'm working on my 4th, but it's the only one. I seem to be rather unorganized as well, I've heard that most writers do an outline before they start. I just go with a beginning, an idea for the middle, and an idea for the ending. What happens in between is, to me, magic.
Pletcha wrote: "That's wonderful that you have so many ideas to get started with. I'm working on my 4th, but it's the only one. I seem to be rather unorganized as well, I've heard that most writers do an outline b..."I also do not outline. I write down everything I can think of and the characters that come to mind then I start writing and see what comes. It's a lot of fun that way.
Yes, you're right about that. Even if I think I have a sound idea it can turn out completely different than I had expected.
My only problem with writing, is that, while writing EL32, there were times when I felt like throwing my laptop (on which I was writing) out the window and jumping after it. It's torture to write characters into a romance, give them voices, and then kill one of them off.
Martin wrote: "My reasons? Let's see...1. Because the annoying kid sitting next to me in grade eight said I couldn't do it and I was determined to make him eat his words.
2. Because it almost feels like a crim..."
I love your reasons for writing. Thanks for the laugh!
Everyone has their own reasons and I'd love to know what yours are.
Find out mine on my latest blog: Plain Old Love
http://www.elizabethjasperwriter.word...