Day 126: Why We Write

Why do you write? Like much of everything else, there is a reason behind why we do something. In this case, what is it that propels you to write? Or if you find yourself on the side of not writing, why don't you write?

In some way, most of us write. Whether that be in a journal, a diary, poetry, blog posts, novels, short stories, Instagram captions etc. Whatever medium it is in, people tend to write. There is something so satisfying about watching words flow from your mind onto paper or a screen. Then for others, there might be a lack of writing incorporated in your daily life. You just can't seem to make the time to write anything and if you do, it can feel silly and pointless.

Whatever side we fall on, there is a reason. We might not be aware of it and in all reality you probably are not aware of it, but there is a reason deep within. Something calls you to either write or refrain from writing. The why is in there, waiting for you to discover why.

There are so many reasons why we write, so many reasons. However, a quote by an anonymous author put it this way and I think it's beautiful.

Why We Write:

We write to understand
We write to change minds
We write to be understood
We write because it's required
We write because we care
We write to make a difference
We write because we feel like it
We write because we can
We write to be heard

There could be a list longer than any list out there of all the reasons why someone writes, because it is unique to every person in the world. It can be an important thing to realize because that why will begin to fuel your writing journey. When you know why you write, you will begin to understand more about yourself and the things you are trying to say.

In the other case something is holding you back from writing. Whether that be intentionally, or unconsciously. Maybe you've never considered the fact that you don't actually write anything down ever unless it's a to do list or an email. Maybe you've tried your hand at journaling and blogging and the words just wouldn't come easily. Whatever the maybe is, you haven't written much. I believe there's a reason for that.

Deep down you realize that maybe you don't want to process the things going on in life. Maybe you're scared of all the things happening and don't want to see them on paper because that makes them ever more real than they already are.

Whatever the why is, acknowledge it. Dig deep in order to discover it and realize why you steer away from writing. From there you have two choices, continue on with how you are living your life for there is nothing wrong with not writing. Or try your hand at really getting down to the nitty-gritty and acknowledging the fact that you want to write but something is holding you back. I grantee the fact that if you write about what's holding you back, it will no longer have any control over you.

Personally, I write a lot. I write blog posts, I write captions and journal entries and ideas and just about anything else. I am almost always writing and I love it so much. For me, I write for one very distinct reason, I write for when I look back I will wish I had. That is my why, I write to remember and to not forget. However, I know that I had to come to that place because I didn't always prioritize writing in my life.

There was a time when I did not want to write and I did not fill my words with everything I was going through. At the time I was okay with it. But when I looked back on that period of time I regretted not writing and that is when I realized my why, for both not writing and writing. I wasn't writing because it was painful and gave context to what I was going through, but I realized that in the long run I wanted to remember.

Finding out why is essential to knowing whether or not you should or shouldn't be writing. There is no right or wrong, but the why is vitally important. And in the word's of another person this is a beautiful reason for why we should write:

And so I write.
I write my life.
I write to escape real life.
I write to live moments over again.
I write to rewrite the moments I’ve lived over in a way that makes more sense to me.
I write the moments to heal.
I write the moments I hope never happen.
And I write the moments I hope will happen.

R. B. O'Brien

Until Next Time,
Lillian Merritt