Why Do People Write?
Exploring your 'why'
(image of TL Clark posing in Regency garb, holding a quill pen)
Let us begin with some basics.
It is important to know your motivation. There are many reasons why someone chooses to write. There are no wrong answers! However, if your key motivator is ‘to make money’ I would urge you to think again, for it is tremendously difficult to actually earn one’s crust by writing. I shall cover details of the costs in a later article. For now, suffice it to say that most authors have another job in order to pay those pesky bills.
Let us think about our ‘why’. Some possible responses include:
Writing can be therapeutic. Maybe you’ve had some bad experiences which you now wish to turn into positives by using them as inspiration. Maybe your character will have a similar experience, highlighting that particular issue. Educate and inform.
Maybe you’re an explorer and want to uncover some mysteries of the world.
Because since time immemorial, there have been storytellers who unite peoples by telling tales. You just happen to be one of them.
Because you want to leave part of yourself behind in this world after you’ve left it. This is your legacy. Be part of history.
Putting “pen to paper” may help you organise your thoughts and bring clarity. Cathartic!
Sometimes, we just want/need to express ourselves. To share our thoughts with the world.
Is your day job unfulfilling? Writing scratches an itch and brings relief to a neglected part of your soul.
Because, having searched far and wide, you can’t find the book you want to read. Write it!
What if your book could make an impact? Really make a difference. Be an inspiration.
Your ‘why’ is like your magickal pixie dust or your happy thought.
For, when times get rough (and they will!), you may recollect your ‘why’ and plough on through.
I say this not to discourage, but to prepare you. We writers tend to be sensitive souls – those who feel deeply can write deeply, after all. The more emotion put in by the author means more emotion is received by the reader. However, that superpower also has a dark side. Every writer I know hits hurdles, and sometimes outright brick walls in their path. Setbacks can make us feel despondent. But it’s what you do in those moments which will elicit change. Will you stop? Or will you grab onto your precious ‘why’, take a deep breath through gritted teeth and carry on?
What? You want to know my ‘why’? How very personal! However, I shall tell you…
I read a certain book (the title of which sounds more like a paint chart) and somewhat arrogantly thought, “Even I can write better than this!”. Well, challenge accepted! I wrote Young’s Love. And here I am, twelve years and sixteen books later, still going.
What was supposed to only be one book became my life. You see, people read that first book… from all over the world! And liked it. Colour me gobsmacked. Spurred on by my little success, I wrote another. And another etc. etc. etc.
Obviously, that initial pig-headed challenge hasn’t sustained me all this time. It was more the kick up the bum I needed as an instigator.
I write to explore love in its many forms. Love; one simple, little word with so many connotations.
Then, each book I write has its own individual reason for demanding to be written e.g. Regency Love served to give a voice to women who had none at the time. And Love Habit needed to reflect how there was more acceptance of LGBTQIA+ folk in the past than we’ve been led to believe.
Do feel free to share your ‘why’ in the comments. It is purely optional; no pressure. But curious minds, and all that 😉
Always in love and light,
TL
