Eight Reasons Why I Write

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imageI started this little blog about two-and-a-half years ago. I’ve never made a secret of the fact that I began with no expectations, initially using it as a therapeutic tool during quite a difficult time in my life. Since then, the act of writing seems to have taken on a far different role than I ever could have imagined. Of all the creative things that I have started in my thirty-three years, writing is one of the only things that I enjoy and I strive to improve in – I never get bored. Indeed, it hasn’t just improved my life, it’s changed it beyond all recognition.

My blog, like my life and mindset, does not have a particular niche. I like the freedom to be able to discuss lots of different ideas and thoughts and I’ve always avoided remaining on the same topic for too long. I don’t consider myself to be a fictional writer and find it very difficult to create characters and stories (my greatest attempt to do this resulted in a long, drawn out story of a lonely squirrel that I created when I was eleven years old for a school assignment – it was just as boring to write it as it was for others to read it). Instead, I write about things that entertain me, news stories, experiences and adventures within my own life: things that I can relate to and interest me. The lengths of my posts always vary – sometimes, I will write a 2,000 word essay on a major news event, others I will simply post a photograph of something that is important to me, and similarly the response that I receive varies in return.

So why do I write?

1. I love the process of creating a post – thinking, researching, experimenting, creating, editing, publishing, re-editing, interacting and promoting – and I’ve been extremely lucky to meet lots of inspiring people along the way. I often get a sense of gratification from pressing the ‘publish’ button and reading the comments that are left in response.

2. The urge to share. Essentially, writing on a blog invites others into your world. It provides a small window into your life – who you are, what you stand for, your interests and your passions. Through the blogging world I have been introduced to all sorts of topics that I had very little knowledge of, I have shared fellow bloggers ups and downs, seen their families, their traditions, their homes. I’ve learnt about their favourite things in life, books, films, food, music, and have shared my own.

3. Writing is therapeutic. It helps me to work out my problems and concerns, organises my thoughts and allows me to vent any frustrations that I may be having without having to burden those around me. The pen, or in this case, the keypad, is indeed mightier than the sword.

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4. In life, I am not a leader. In groups I am often talked over and interrupted by more dominant people, and I am not one who will openly voice opinions on a subject that interests me for fear of being perceived as dull. However, a blank page on my computer screen offers me a million possibilities without fear of interruption, boredom or a change of subject. It gives me a voice.

5. I like the fact that others appear to enjoy what I write. It’s a purely egotistical thing, particularly as I initially didn’t expect anyone to read it. To receive a positive comment almost provides a sense of validation that we don’t often receive as adults.

6. Writing helps me realise that I am not alone. The world can be a lonely and confusing place sometimes – the trials and tribulations that complicate all aspects of life can leave us feeling. Writing, and the interaction that follows has taught me that there are thousands of others that have had similar thoughts and experiences.

7. A legacy? While I don’t feel that my life is in the least bit inspirational, there is still the idea of leaving something behind after I’m gone that appeals to me. Life is short, it could end tomorrow, and if this is what is left behind, then this little blog is proof of my existence.

8. Ultimately, it allows me to reflect on the journey I have travelled and the progress I have made. When I feel negative thoughts creeping in, I revisit my early posts to appreciate how much better things are now and how lucky I am. It’s evidence that I’m going in the right direction.

What about you guys? Why do you write?

You can also find me on Twitter and Tumblr @suzie81blog and don’t forget to like check out my Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/suzie81speaks, my Pinterest page http://www.pinterest.com/suzie81speaks and my Instagram page http://www.instagram.com/suzie81speaks

108 thoughts on “Eight Reasons Why I Write”

  1. Hi Suzie, thanks for this – an interesting post. I share many of these reasons (number 4 really resonates), but for me the main driver is that my blog is an outlet for a creative itch that I need to scratch! Even if no one read or liked my poetry (and not many do anyway), I’d still do it “for me”.

  2. Writing is my addiction. When I don’t write I get withdrawal symptoms, and the voices in my head drive me mad! But I also write for all the reasons you mentioned, because it brings me great joy. I love spending time in the worlds I create! 😀

  5. Well you inspired me to start writing a blog! I’m a bit all over the place and finding my feet but I have all this random stuff in my head and it’s an outlet like it seems to be for many. I love putting together a piece – researching, investigating, finding something visual to put in there (or try and create it myself). I spend hours reading, I start on one thing which then takes me down another avenue and so on – my head feels like a pinball machine. I’ve found new interests I otherwise would never have come across and old interests have sprung back to life – I feel like an excited kid! So thank You! 😀

  7. I write fiction, but a lot of your points apply to me as well. Mostly I write to tell the stories that are in my head, because they can’t stay there – there’s not enough room. I love to create the worlds in which these stories take place and I enjoy getting to know the characters who inhabit them.

  8. I can relate to your reasons. Writing has open a new world for me and I find meaning in it. Therapeutic, that’s for sure – no denying the fact that it’s helped me through tough times. I also don’t have many expectations for my blog. As of now, I’m enjoying the feeling writing gives me and not to mention the experience and lessons behind the writing/sharing/connecting. Also, it’s been great connecting with other bloggers/writers and like you said, writing helps me realise that I’m not alone. Great blogpost, suzie. It’s always nice when other writers share why they write. In my opinion, a valid question every writer must ask themselves!

  9. Yes on all of these. I would add for myself: When I was writing a novel, I found it was very solitary. You work for literally thousands of hours by yourself – with no one even knowing what you are doing. Blogging for me is just the opposite – you write, you post, and you interact with an audience immediately. That feels as wonderful sometimes as finishing a novel!

  12. Lovely blog. I blog and write for all of the reasons you’ve listed above. I started writing when I was 12, but didn’t go public until I was over fifty. The years I missed. Glad you’re having fun, pursuing your passion and using your talent. Life is short!

      • My husband travels a great deal and my head is full of stories that need to be released! So far I’ve only had time to publish one (self publish), but I’m working on more. So much fun right!

      • Well keep it up, its fun. I have a couple of blogs. ‘Stop Talking to me’, for my short stories and to promote my books, and Travel Tales and Mishaps, travelwithsandra.wordpress.com, which is much like your blog. Its a good hobby and its fun. Sometimes you just need to be alone and share your thoughts.

      • My travel/general blog is easy to maintain. I’ll blog once or twice a week. Takes twenty minutes or so. The story blog is harder, imagination needs to flow. Only do that once a week. It’s just a routine. I enjoy it too. Barely ever switch the TV on.

  13. I write because I have all these quirky little ideas and stories bouncing around in my head and I have to put them somewhere. I write because I love words and what one can do with words.

  15. Great post again, Suzie. For me, writing has always been like breathing…an automatic process required for survival. I am quite a talker and I love being with people so I think writing could also be a way of talking when no one’s around.
    I am also trying to sort out so many things in my head and writing helps that process. I guess this is because I ask complex questions and the writing helps me pursue the answers…or perhaps just more questions xx Rowena

  16. What an awesome list, Suzie! I love every single point you listed! For me, I write because it really does make me happy sharing my thoughts about seeing Chicago from a Canadian point of view. In school we always had to write papers with the subject, “compare and contrast”. It used to drive me crazy, but now I quite like the idea of looking at things and finding the similarities and differences. Cher xo

  17. In no particular order:

    1. Therapeutic

    2. Distraction from harmful or hurtful behaviours/feelings

    3. What the ultra-introverted person in me would say if I were extroverted and able to just meet people easily.

    4. Connections with people in the same situation I am in, whichever situation that is I am writing about that day.

  18. I write because it’s the way I express myself. Because I can’t not write 🙂 And I love words, I love moving them around to create pictures. There was a hashtag recently called #WhyIWrite and I tweeted it with ‘Because words create worlds’. I write because I can’t paint the stories I see in my head. Gosh, lots of reasons, really 🙂 And it has led me to places I didn’t expect, and to lovely people I wouldn’t have met otherwise, yourself included.

    • I love that sentence – I write because I can’t not write… It’s only since I started blogging that I realised just how passionate true writers are about their craft… And I agree – it’s led me to meeting you and other lovelies!

  20. Love this and it’s all so true! I wrote a similar post on my blog explaining why I write and it’s pretty similar to yours. Above all things, I write because I want to – no, I NEED to – and because I love it 🙂

  22. It started out for me as a creative outlet which then turned into a gratitude journal.

    At one point it was my reason to get out and do something different each day so I could write about a new topic.

    There was a few exciting months when I tried all manner of activities, until I realized that the act of observation released a whole new range of blogs ideas even when I was basically doing the same things week in/week out.

    So this New Years project of mine is an evolutionary process that has enriched my year and my life.

  23. Suzie, I blog because it’s therapeutic and I enjoy the process of formulating and writing a post. I stick with it because it has become a passion of sorts and because I’ve come across some very wonderful people on WordPress…like you!

  25. Why do I like to write? It’s my way to express myself creatively ,it’s something I have always been able to do since I was young. I always wanted to be a baseball player then when I got past a point in life when that wasn’t possible …I thought about being a song writer and a singer…ok I dream big …but writing has always been there …when I started blogging back in 2012 it was like you said it was therapy for me work out some issues I was having in my personal life,in fact I didn’t know anything about blogging lol. It was my ex girlfriend who suggested that I blog and said it would be a good way into writing …so I like to write because deep down I am a writer at heart.

  27. This will seem a bit heavy but I was sent this link about life having meaning and that leading to happiness – the point being pursing happiness for itself is flawed but if happiness ensues then that is what happens if life has meaning. I think discovering I enjoy writing, I have things I’d like to get down and share is a part of what gives life meaning for me – there are many others but this is in the top five and that’s why I write, because happiness ensues. http://www.businessinsider.com/a-lesson-about-happiness-from-a-holocaust-survivor-2014-10?IR=T

  29. Great reasons, Suzie. Many of them I share with you, some I hadn’t thought about. I’ve always loved writing, although in my case, apart from writing of the things I like (books, movies) and subjects that interest me or I study (mental health…), I also love fiction and always enjoyed both reading and telling stories. And I agree about what a great it is to meet people. Amazing!

  30. Your reasons for writing seem to be so like mine! I could really relate to this post a lot. I think blogging has helped me discover the real me, which is a revelation! Where have I been hiding all these years? I’ve made a lot of mistakes career wise but I suppose those bad decisions have made me who I am. Hopefully experience will make me a better writer in the long run, well that’s what I try to tell myself. I’m a dreadful slow coach for being such a late developer!

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    • I love that so many people have responded with the fact that it’s something that they have to do… Makes me realise that my writing urge is not an unusual one!

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