What drives us to write?

Since publishing my book, I’ve gotten this question a few times. And there’s no easy, straight-forward answer, we all have different views on it. We could be writing for fame and glory, for money, for release, etc. I usually give a short answer for the sake of not boring people, but the truth is, it’s much more complicated than a simple “because I like it and it’s what I’ve always wanted to do.”

In my case, writing started off as a release. You know those tumultuous teenage years every one of goes through? Some people lash out, others decide on careers, others experiment? Me, I wrote.

I was faced with difficult situations, and writing was my way of escaping it. The worlds I created -or expanded on – were a lot more fun to live in than my own reality at times. In a way, I guess it was almost therapeutic. Looking back on it, it definitely feels that way.

Even now, looking back at stories I wrote back then, I can feel the emotions coursing through the writing, in the way the characters express themselves, or react to life situations. I’ve put a lot of me, in my own characters, over the years, almost subconsciously.

Now that my life is more stable, I write to share. When a character or story pops up in my head, there is no way I can say no :) So I write them out, write their story, and at one point or another, it takes a life of its own and turns into a much longer project than I expected. But that’s the fun of it!

Writing may have started as an escape for me, but it has become what I want to do with my life. A way for me to share my vision of the world; it’s my way of giving back to the universe for having given me a way out through the darkness.

What drives you to write? Share and comment below