Why Writers Write

Why do Writers Write?

Ask any writer why they write and the answer you get will initially be a furrowed brow along with shrugged shoulders accompanied by an extended stretch of silence. The delayed and unspecific response is equally non-informative. “Because…it’s what I do.” OK, that was unsatisfying. It leaves the questioner with misgivings. “This writer doesn’t know why they write?” It’s an answer yet, it makes one wonder from where the writers creative side originates. They want to know.

Writers don’t analyze what motivates or inspires them. They/we are storytellers. Often the impetus comes mysteriously out of the ether, or stings us like a hornet, painfully itchy, and doesn’t stop until we attend to the irritation (meaning we get to work and complete an initial draft - at the least).

Why we write is less important (although interesting and often cathartic) than what we write. For instance, I’m sure Stephen King doesn’t waste his time pondering his fascination for horror. One might think he has psychopathic tendencies spurred by inner demons. Thank goodness for them, because faithful readers, grateful for his literary genius, can’t wait for his next book. What does it matter what he writes? His itch being hugely lucrative.

Although, there is usually a reason that a person takes up the pen, or should I say, compels their fingers to pound the keyboard. I realized my inner passion when I repeatedly verbalized, “I could write a book” when asked about my visibly obvious work frustrations. Scratching my hornet bite meant to write “that book” about the unscrupulous ladder climbers in the manufacturing industry. But wait. Denigration has legal repercussions. That was not where I wanted to go. It took a bit of soul searching to realize that retribution wasn’t my true motivation. I had a repressed creative spirit and it was screaming to be set free. I found my release in writing fiction and I haven’t stopped since then. Ergo, I write because if I did not, my dissatisfaction with a misplaced career would probably put my coworkers in peril. LOL, just kidding – or maybe not.

I might wager that other writers are also confused by their underlying passion to write. It is something they do - because. Just because. Or, do they, like me, have primary issues that are the origin of their writings? I want to explore what makes my fellow writer/authors tick.

Please watch for my forthcoming blog posts as I invite writers to guest blog about their books and the reason/s they chose to write that story. It’s the story behind the story.

Marianne Scott, author

The Draker Series Thrillers (3 volumes), Underneath the Fireflies.