Why Write?


People have been writing all sorts of different things for quite a long time now, and while the content of what they write is obviously quite important I’d like to discuss why they write these things.  There are almost as many reasons to write, as there are things to write about.  Some of them are good reasons; some of them are frivolous; and some of them are just outright bad.  There are personal reasons to write, monetary ones, and sometimes people just write for the mere sake of writing.  I’d like to focus on the good reasons to write, because its those reasons in particular that tend to lend themselves more to good writing.  After all, good intentions generally have better results.

Historically speaking, writing has always been a little different than the other arts.  Painting and the other “visual” medias were mostly reserved for religious images and/or kings and royalty.  Music has always been too easily replicated to be constrained and was practiced by many without restriction.  Writing, however was reserved for the intellectual elite.  While the subjects of paintings were under control, they could still be seen and understood by just about anyone, kings and peasants alike.  Even the kings often couldn’t understand writings at all.  It wasn’t really considered an art form, just a tool for long-term information.

Writing became history.  It gave the past a textual relevance, it made history verifiable, and modifiable.  Writing wasn’t used so much for creativity, but more for simple documentation.  Historians of the world wrote down their histories, and for the most part, they were the only ones that could even read them.  Luckily though, more and more people began to catch on, and eventually that human spark of invention and imagination caught hold.

Nowadays, being able to read and write is generally expected in the “civilized” world.  So even the most amateurish writers can pen something out any day of the week.  Being able to write is no longer a defining factor of intelligence.  It’s all about one’s skills with words, their vernacular, their pacing, and their style.  There is one other factor that while perhaps less important, is certainly relevant to discussion, and that’s the reason for writing in the first place.

The most basic reason for writing is also the most obvious.  People write in order to communicate.  Words have a power and longevity to them that can’t always be replicated with speech.  Everybody writes their name in the dirt at some point, they’re trying to communicate to the world by etching their very name upon it.  Writing for communication is very noble indeed, but it’s not very interesting.

The second most obvious reason for writing would have to be money.  Lets face it, lots of people write simply so that they can get paid.  This is not to say that everybody who gets paid for his or her writing is doing it for this reason.  There is quite a large difference between the two, and it is often very hard to determine which is which.  Most people would rather like to be paid for what they write, but that’s not always why they’re doing it.  However, there are plenty of people out there who have no real love for the craft that employs them.  It is just another means to acquire a monetary income.

Then there are the people who write for the sake of writing.  They love the art of the word.  They strive to better themselves as writers.  These are the people who experiment with words; they’re like the scientists of writing.  The whole concept of writing as an art form appeals to them and they don’t care if they get paid for what they create or not.  These people aren’t always necessarily good at writing, but they get the most enjoyment out of it

The final group is the people who really have no choice but to write.  They have ideas and concepts that seemingly spring from nothing but the synapses in their brains.  They write because something inside of them compels them to do so.  Writing is not a hobby, or a job, or even an art form to them, it is a compulsion.  Writing is a literal part of them.  They would not be able to function without being able to express themselves with words on a semi-regular basis.  They don’t always enjoy writing, but they do it anyway.

These are the major reasons for writing.  There are certainly many more smaller reasons but they too fall into these categories in one-way or another.  Some of these reasons are far better than others.  Writing without any respect for the craft and only to make money is something that should be avoided at all costs.  Unfortunately, it is a common trap that many authors regularly fall into.  At one time they enjoyed their writing, and did it to entertain or to amaze people, but eventually, over the years they became not so much artists, but technicians of words.

Writing because you love it is by far the best way to go.  It’s not for everyone.  Some people paint, some people write books, and some people throw balls at hoops.  But if you are not naturally compelled to write and still want to, it would be best if you had an actual love and respect for the art form.  Because that’s what it really is, an art form.  Painters use paint, we artists use the very minds of our readers.  Don’t treat them like a color-by-numbers, they deserve better.