Why Writers Love Writing

Happy St. Valentine’s Day. Happy February 14th.  Happy Friday.  

I figured I would bookend this post with a message in red being that it is Valentine’s Day and all. If you haven’t noticed already, the word love is colour-coded too.

Since February 14th is upon us and I don’t exactly have a guy to write about (what? I’m only sixteen), I figured I’d explain the complicated concept of writing. More accurately, I’ll attempt to simplify why writers love writing so much.

So why are we able to sacrifice studying, socializing, and sleeping for writing? I have graciously provided 5 reasons below. Do you have more?

1. It’s a means to vent.
2. It’s a way to seek revenge.
3. It’s a chance to express yourself.
4. It’s an opportunity to relive your fantasies or tragedies.
5. It’s an outlet to say what you want to say and to be who you want to be.

Obviously, there are many more reasons to love writing. Regardless, I hope every writer will take some time out today (yes, on a Friday) to make love…on paper. By the way, I know that was a horrible joke.

Happy St. Valentine’s Day. Happy February 14th.  Happy Friday.  

I Am A Writer Because…

I am a writer because I write.

I am a writer because there is nothing else I rather be doing.

I could wake up in the wee hours of morning before every other teenager just to write a story. I would sleep at the darkest hour of the night so I can finish what I started.

I am a writer because even though I am misunderstood by many and underpaid, I still spend all my free time writing or thinking about writing.

I write to inspire.

I write to create. I write to conjure. I write to concoct.

I am a writer because I can bring characters to life, I can brew up a world that never existed, or summon a new society that no one has ever seen before.

Writing is my venue. Writing is my creative outlet. Most of all, writing is my life.

I can share what is important to me through writing. If I can move someone to tears, anger the most patient individual ever, or elicit feelings of happiness and joy in a person I know that I’ve done my job as a writer.

I put every inch of myself in my writing in hopes that someone can appreciate the beauty in it.

Every thing I write—good or bad, ugly or pretty, a diamond in the rough or a polished gem—is a reflection of myself.

I have to write as much as some people need to sing, dance, run, or speak.

Some people can paint, cook, or act every day for the rest of their life and be content with it. The same is true with writing. I could write for the rest of my life and be perfectly content, even satisfied.

I am a writer because I can live with being insane, being single, and being broke for my whole life. But I cannot live without writing.

I write because without it my life feels empty. A day without writing creates a void I cannot fill with anything else. So I fill this void by writing.

I write to express myself, to be myself. It is the only place where I can say what I want to say, tell it like it is, and be who I want to be without fear of anyone judging me.

I write to escape from the brutal reality. To run away from harsh lies. To forget about a painful life.

I am a writer because it is one of the only things I know how to do well.

I am a writer. I am glad I am. I am proud of that fact.

I am a writer because I love being a writer.

Advantages Of Being A Writer

I figured it would make sense to do a follow-up post on the advantages of being a writer since yesterday I did the opposite:

Disadvantages Of Being A Writer

Are you ready to see the light at the end of the tunnel? The wonderful feeling of joy that writing can bring is great and all but there are other perks that come with pursuing this craft.

1. You can work where ever, whenever, and however the heck you feel like it. You’re a morning person? Great. You’re a night owl? Awesome. It doesn’t matter what time of day you are at your best, you decide when you write so why not choose your peak hours? Not many other jobs offer this kind of flexibility so take advantage of that. You could work at home, on the beach, in a coffee shop…really the possibilities are endless. How you write is entirely up to you too. You can outline. You can choose not to outline. You can write the ending first. You could even write the last sentence first. Best of all, these decisions are made by no one else other than you.
2. Writers develop strange habits that only other writers know about. Hehehehehe. Hahahahaha. Don’t ask. If you are a writer, you already know what I mean.
3. When working, you can literally wear nothing and that’s okay. Could you do that if you were working at a law firm? I didn’t think so.
4. There’s a slight possibility you will leave a legacy behind even after you pass away. Remember that famous quote from Benjamin Franklin that went something like if you don’t want to be forgotten as soon as you are dead, write something worth reading or do something worth writing? So what are you waiting for? Pick up the pen and write something worthy of leaving a legacy behind. Few other professions have such a power.
5. Imagine reaching, connecting, and talking to people across the world. It is possible. Influencing people nowadays is much easier with the advance of technology and communication means. See, even the world is on the writer’s side.   
6. What could be better than expressing yourself without being subjected to judgment? A creative outlet for self-expression and creativity is therapeutic. And if you choose to, you don’t have to show your writing to anybody. Avoiding painful torment is always a plus.

Are these perks enough to keep you going? To keep you from quitting or possibly giving up on writing? It does get better. The more you do it. Remember it gets worse before it gets better. And if you give up when everything seems to go wrong you’ll miss out on the day things actually come together perfectly.