Diane Carlisle over at the blog Are We There Yet? posed this question on her blog. She even set it up as a blog hop for the rest of us to join in…well, even though I had logged into my blog for an entire different reason, I thought I would answer it.
Why do I write? Why did that even start? Well, maybe it was my fascination with books.
My mom loves telling me this story and to be honest, I love hearing it. It shows my first, fascinating attachment with those wonderful creatures I call books. When I was very young, way before I could read or talk, I would go to the bookshelf that was in the living room and pull out every single book on the shelf. This was my daily ritual.
It was then that my relationship with the printed word began.
When I evolved, and my mom would want to read to me, I invited instead that we each take a page to read. This was way before I knew what the words were saying, so I would make up what would happen based on the pictures.
A writer was born.
Since then, telling stories have been part f my life. I think at the age of ten, when adults started asking what I wanted to be when I grew up, that I began to realize what I could identify myself as…a published author.
Now, at the age of 25, I am still waiting for that. It’s still what I want to be when I grow up.
And as my novel sits at my side, waiting for me to write down the next word, I know for certain it will always be something that is a part of me.
And the interesting thing is, my physical connection to books has never changed either. I hand write my first drafts. For me, I need to do that because I feel more connected to the words in front of me. It also makes it easier when I rewrite it, because I have a new look at the story as I type. I can add descriptions, restructure if I need to, subtract scenes…
Really, if I could, I would be the first in line to buy the first published, handwritten novel. Edited, of course. But I think the physical nature of writing a book can turn it into an art form. Or maybe I’m just weird.
As you can tell, I probably will never adopt the e-book reader as a primary form of reading stories.
Why am I a writer?
Because I’m a storyteller. Like Diane said, it’s a way of letting another part of you out. The part of you that needs to ask a question that can be answered with fiction. And I like how stories can take you away. Someone else takes the controls for a while.
I was watching a show recently where someone said, “Words can tell you something, but music can make you feel something.” Well, I think that’s wrong. Words can make you feel too. Whoever said that quote has never really read a good story.
Well, I’m not sure if I even answered the question about why I write…but tell me, why do you write?
Take part in the blog hop by posting your answer to the question on your blog and posting the link here.
And if you’ll excuse, I have a date with the bookshelf…
Nicole, you are so correct! I've read stories that sang to me as if they were songs. I think it's that connection to ourselves that we attempt to accomplish in the end, but your bookshelf is an amazing structure for you, like your anchor.
Thanks for participating. You are always inspirational. I'm happy I was able to inspire this post. Great one!
Thank YOU for the post Diane! Yours is one of the few blogs that I look to for a great post, and consistently deliver. What a great idea for a blog hop!
This was a great post on writing! Very funny about you as a baby pulling all the books off the shelf! How cute! I'm sure your mother thought your daily ritual was very cute too…Writing is a release of thought and feelings, like you mentioned, that whirl around in my head. A blank piece of paper is always willing to listen to anything you have to say. You don't have to worry about what its opinion is of it. It just absorbs it all! Cheers!
Thank you beachlover! I always thought it was cool that my mom never scolded me about that either – she thought it was adorable that I had this unique little quirk about the bookshelf! And such a good point to – no judgment from the paper at all – it will listen and take what you have to say. Whether it's wrong, right, good or bad.
Thank you for reading!
Nicole, I enjoy learning more about you. I agree with you that writing can make you feel (not just music). Good quotes and talented writers can really move people's hearts. Writing is a tool and a gift that has a lot of power in it. I also do the same usually, especiallly with longer works. I prefer to hand-write a draft and then type it. I also enjoy that connection between the pen, the paper and me. I do like the Kindle though, and it is a great invention, but I am always going to love touching physical books. Books are a part of my soul! Writing is, too!
"Nicole's on her way over…hurry, box up the books!"
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great post! I found you on the weekend blog hop and am now following! Stop by and say hi:
http://suburbanrebelmom.blogspot.com/
Visiting from Exposure 99% weekday hop.
Thanks Nicole – great post. I am still trying to find out why I write, but I think it is all about letting that other part out, about asking and answering the questions, whatever they may be.
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