Why do you write?
Why do you put fingers to keyboard and pound out words?
Why do you push forward?
Most people who embark on a writing adventure discover writing is hard, sometimes excruciating, work. It’s work that requires much, including long periods of silence and isolation, or at least mental and focal separation. It’s work that is often accompanied by rejection, frustration, and discouragement.
For some, writing is also deep emotional work that requires holding thoughts and opinions to the light, sifting painful memories, and dredging for courage.
For others it is spiritual work that requires examining beliefs, trusting what isn’t visible, setting aside self for the benefit of others.
For many writers, myself included, it is all of the above and then some.
So, why do you write?
Recently, I joined a group setting out on a difficult emotional journey. At the onset of our exploration, one of the guides asked each of us to consider why we’d chosen to traverse the challenging terrain ahead. She exhorted us to do the work of mining for our compelling why.
She assured us we’d need to draw on our compelling why when the path got rocky, when fatigue set in, when we no longer cared about reaching our destination.
She assigned us the task of discovering our compelling why and then returning to our compelling why each time doubt, discouragement, or even apathy tempted.
I am still navigating that course rife with obstacles. When I grow weary, I slow my pace and pull out a crumpled, tear-stained sheet of notebook paper. The piece of paper where I scrawled my compelling why. And I remember…
As one of the guides on your writing journey, I assure you there are few things more thrilling or exhilarating than climbing the mountain of your writing goal and reaching the pinnacle of your dream.
But the journey is long and the obstacles are real.
So I encourage you, I urge you… Search until you find the beating heart of your reasoning. Find the why that will compel you through the valley of rejection, over the peak of publication, and back through the canyon of hard work.
Let your compelling why propel you forward.
What’s your why?
TIPS:
If you aren’t sure of your compelling why, set aside time to consider the question. Discuss it with those closest to you, offer the question as a prayer, then write your why and keep it accessible.
If you know your why, return to it often. Post it where it’s visible. Share it with others who will remind you why you’ve taken on the task of writing.
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The reason I began to write many decades ago was for an outlet. It has been a long emotional journey through healing and the mountains and valleys have been torture at times. As I look back, I am thankful God used writing as a tool for spiritual and emotional growth and deep healing.
Susan, isn’t it amazing how much writing offers us when we take the effort to get the words on the page? Thanks for sharing.
Yes it is Ginny, I am always amazed what comes through my writing as I let it flow. The healing power of God is to huge to describe. I am thankful He uses me as a vessel.
My writing came at a young age where I could escape to my room and write in my diary or a short story. Sometimes non-fiction, sometimes not. I love the prospect of characters and their social graces. The mechanics of communication and the ability to share a world where tween readers are vastly becoming the future thinkers of our society. It’s up to us to provide an avenue of good writing and the ability to share the love we have been gifted through no actions of our own. The world is waiting to hear from you and me.
Does my why have to be short, like a sentence? I’m getting a lot of answers when I ask myself the question.
Jane, your why can be whatever you need it to be. 🙂 It’s also fluid. Mine has changed through the years as I’ve changed and grown.
Ginny, I agree with needing to find the why. I’ve been asking myself that a lot lately, but your words helped me cut through to the right way to ask the question. Sometimes, discouragement from lack of response or life can cloud the why. I agree with the part about it being fluid as well. I think the longer I write, the clearer the answer is becoming, but I still need to ask the question and make sure the deep reason is the same as it was the first time I sat down to write.