Why We Write

Published November 2009

A few evenings ago I finally met up with a ‘Facebook friend’ – read; someone I had gotten to know online through mutual friends. This new pal of mine recently launched a book on Sabah architecture which is something I know very little about. However, the quality of his prose paired with some stunning photography (the author’s own) made this a book to be reckoned with in terms of sheer quality. In short, I was impressed.

We spent a good couple of hours waxing lyrical on writing, discussing the many different facets that make for a decent scribbler and swapping our own writers tales.

I think it should go without saying that passion for writing has to be the most important factor to consider. When you have passion, all other distractions usually fade into an abyss nearby. Pair that passion up with an interest in reading and you’re well on your way.

When I started blogging a good 5 years ago, the idea of putting my words out there for someone else to read was one that sat very well with me. Apart from the initial hiccups of having to explain what a blog was to the less-aware, just knowing that there were people reading my thoughts was a huge boost of self-esteem.

Mind you, this was when I knew next to nothing about writing. I was a different person living a different existence and the notion of writing for a living was one that was so far removed from my everyday life, I paid it no mind. A corporate job in a family business may be some people’s idea of heaven but it certainly wasn’t mine. That being said, it did pay the bills several times over and the perks were great.

Yet the ominous telltale signs of impending doom were creeping in. It was harder to get out of bed in the morning. Projects that once got me amped held little to no interest. It was becoming obvious to those around me that I was headed for a brick wall. I found myself being increasingly frustrated with where I thought my life was headed and I didn't want any more of it.

There is no telling what the fates ever have in store for us and one fine day I decided that I wanted to pursue this ‘writing thing’. I quit, said goodbye to the lifestyle I had gotten used to (and the large pay check that went along with it) and felt as if I had been given a new lease on everything. I finally felt as though I was living. I wrote. And wrote some more. Supportive friends pointed me in the right direction for freelance work. I built my portfolio up to a respectable level and am now on a different playing field from my humble beginnings not too long ago.

In my personal opinion, we write because of an overwhelming desire to delve into wordplay. Those who write well usually exhibit some level of drive. A need to put pen to paper – or in this day and age - fingers to keyboard.

So yes, write. Write a lot. Write all the time. Childishly simplistic as this may seem, it’s a proven formula that works. Write down ideas. Discuss plots with other like-minded individuals. Experiment. Dabble in something new, just to see how you go.

I often remember the advice given by Siobhan Adcock, my tutor during my Gotham Writing Workshop days. An author of two books (“30 Things Everyone Should Know How To Do Before Turning 30” and “Hipster Haiku”) by publishing paragon Random House, Siobhan’s main emphasis to her students was to always read. Epic tomes, light fiction, magazines, even the back of a cereal box. Anything that was in print usually had something to say and it was up to us budding wannabes, to decipher if that particular type of writing was one we wanted to emulate and turn into a form of expression, or not.

I have to mention one of my favourite pieces on writing by Jennifer Edelson in which she asks the ethereal question, “Why Do Writers Write?” The most direct answer by way of a witty and superbly appropriate by-line was “Because we’re all simply nuts.”

This sharp feature highlights the correlation between writers, mood swings and what many of us refer to as an artistic temperament. I am happy to report that yes, I am a moody so-and-so. I indulge my senses as often as I can and use every excuse in the book to get away with my behaviour, ranging from a classic hound dog expression to blatant grovelling with a few mea culpas thrown in for good measure when I’ve done bad.

I will honestly admit to taking liberties with the artistic temperament license. I regularly cite Hemmingway as my own personal idol and revere his antics. Does this make me a better writer? One worthy of praise and pats on the back? Well, no. But I’d like to think that it’s a strong sign that I’m well on my way.

Some of us have been fortunate enough to be given a platform for a reasonable level of self-expression (personal blogs not included), be it contributing in a freelance or full-time capacity to a variety of media outlets. And I consider myself lucky to be able to interact with some truly spectacular up-and comers as well as established denizens who are renowned for their opinionated stance and excellence in this field.

Writing as a whole is something I personally could not do without. I can safely speak for a certain fraction of writers who believe that we write because we know no other way than this to express ourselves. That there are things that need to be said, words that need to be put out there. We write because this is how we live. More importantly, we write because this is how we breathe.

Sources: Why Do Writers Write by Jennifer Edelson/www.randomhouse.com