Comments on: Putting a Why in Write http://writerunboxed.com/2007/12/13/putting-a-why-in-write/ about the craft and business of fiction Wed, 23 May 2012 03:22:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Eric http://writerunboxed.com/2007/12/13/putting-a-why-in-write/#comment-46621 Eric Fri, 14 Dec 2007 03:21:07 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/12/13/putting-a-why-in-write/#comment-46621 Why write? Like others, I suffer from the disease of believing I have something to say. :) Why write? Like others, I suffer from the disease of believing I have something to say. :)

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]]> By: astrothsknot http://writerunboxed.com/2007/12/13/putting-a-why-in-write/#comment-46553 astrothsknot Fri, 14 Dec 2007 00:16:59 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/12/13/putting-a-why-in-write/#comment-46553 Here's a thing. I don't want to get a publishing deal. Ever. A published writer who's a friend of mind thinks I'm nuts, but I don't want locked into the pressure of deadlines and OMG will my book sell? What if it doesn't? I don't want to write because I have to, I want to write because i <i>have</i> to. I've got a website, my stuff is there should anyone want to read it. If they like it, great. But I'm fine with the idea that people don't. It wasn't written for them, it was written for me and me liking it is all the accolade I need. I've already got a career and I'm bloody good at it and I help lots of people, so i guess it's where God wants me to be. But writing? is what I do for <i>me</i> Here’s a thing. I don’t want to get a publishing deal.

Ever.

A published writer who’s a friend of mind thinks I’m nuts, but I don’t want locked into the pressure of deadlines and OMG will my book sell? What if it doesn’t?

I don’t want to write because I have to, I want to write because i have to.

I’ve got a website, my stuff is there should anyone want to read it. If they like it, great. But I’m fine with the idea that people don’t. It wasn’t written for them, it was written for me and me liking it is all the accolade I need.

I’ve already got a career and I’m bloody good at it and I help lots of people, so i guess it’s where God wants me to be.

But writing? is what I do for me

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]]> By: CJ Lyons http://writerunboxed.com/2007/12/13/putting-a-why-in-write/#comment-46533 CJ Lyons Thu, 13 Dec 2007 21:33:51 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/12/13/putting-a-why-in-write/#comment-46533 I guess I'm with the rest of you--I'd need a 12 step program to quit! When I teach writing classes, that's the question I put to everyone: Why? The answer changes not only with each individual but also over time. When I was a kid I made up stories to try to make sense of the "real" world and to entertain myself. When I was in medical school I wrote as a way to release the stress and envision a hopeful new world (I wrote alot of SFF then) Then I turned to crime fiction after my internship when one of my fellow interns was murdered. And I was right back to where I'd started, trying to make sense of the world, only this time I wanted more. I wanted to change the world--even if it was only my fictional world. Now that I'm finally (finally!) going to be published (LIFELINES, Berkley, March 2008) I'm still writing for the same reasons but now there's that added and wonderful advantage of getting feedback from an audience. And like Kathleen said, it does make you feel alive! I guess I’m with the rest of you–I’d need a 12 step program to quit!

When I teach writing classes, that’s the question I put to everyone: Why? The answer changes not only with each individual but also over time. When I was a kid I made up stories to try to make sense of the “real” world and to entertain myself.

When I was in medical school I wrote as a way to release the stress and envision a hopeful new world (I wrote alot of SFF then)

Then I turned to crime fiction after my internship when one of my fellow interns was murdered. And I was right back to where I’d started, trying to make sense of the world, only this time I wanted more. I wanted to change the world–even if it was only my fictional world.

Now that I’m finally (finally!) going to be published (LIFELINES, Berkley, March 2008) I’m still writing for the same reasons but now there’s that added and wonderful advantage of getting feedback from an audience.

And like Kathleen said, it does make you feel alive!

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]]> By: Kathleen Bolton http://writerunboxed.com/2007/12/13/putting-a-why-in-write/#comment-46516 Kathleen Bolton Thu, 13 Dec 2007 18:15:48 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/12/13/putting-a-why-in-write/#comment-46516 I write for the same reason I eat: to keep alive. I'm addicted to whatever zip the creative process gives to people, and when I'm not writing I feel really crappy. I always feel more alive after I've written. Even when I know I've cobbled some stinker of a scene, I feel a calm that comes with creation. So that's why I write. I write for the same reason I eat: to keep alive. I’m addicted to whatever zip the creative process gives to people, and when I’m not writing I feel really crappy.

I always feel more alive after I’ve written. Even when I know I’ve cobbled some stinker of a scene, I feel a calm that comes with creation.

So that’s why I write.

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]]> By: Jennifer http://writerunboxed.com/2007/12/13/putting-a-why-in-write/#comment-46495 Jennifer Thu, 13 Dec 2007 15:52:56 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/12/13/putting-a-why-in-write/#comment-46495 Writing makes me happy. I love the moment when the disparate threads that sort of sounded like they might kind of make a good story possibly suddenly come together and you say, a-HA, that's what I meant to do! I love the feeling of knowing a character so well that you can make him come alive on the page. Of course I love the godlike feeling of being the architect of a world. I would have to write, even if there was no hope. But hope keeps me going, and there's just something about maybe seeing your name in print that will push me to finish something and get the submissions started. Writing makes me happy. I love the moment when the disparate threads that sort of sounded like they might kind of make a good story possibly suddenly come together and you say, a-HA, that’s what I meant to do! I love the feeling of knowing a character so well that you can make him come alive on the page. Of course I love the godlike feeling of being the architect of a world.

I would have to write, even if there was no hope. But hope keeps me going, and there’s just something about maybe seeing your name in print that will push me to finish something and get the submissions started.

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]]> By: Anthony S. Policastro http://writerunboxed.com/2007/12/13/putting-a-why-in-write/#comment-46478 Anthony S. Policastro Thu, 13 Dec 2007 14:21:14 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/12/13/putting-a-why-in-write/#comment-46478 Hi Allison, Take a look at my blog post, "Why Do You Write?" at http://writersedgeinfo.blogspot.com/2007/08/why-do-you-write.html where I talk with author David Morrell about this very subject. He says all writers write because of a personal trauma that needs to be resolved. What do you think? Hi Allison,
Take a look at my blog post, “Why Do You Write?” at
http://writersedgeinfo.blogspot.com/2007/08/why-do-you-write.html where I talk with author David Morrell about this very subject. He says all writers write because of a personal trauma that needs to be resolved. What do you think?

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