Has a question - Why Do We Write?

When I say writing I mean the whole thing - the thinking about it, the researching of it (if requred) as well as the actual physical process. How many of us write with the aim of only making money? In that we are driven by market need alone. I would imagine this is a precarious approach as the book market is rather fickle but also incredibly difficult to get into. Though having said that there are a very few publishing companies who will only consider formulaic plots with the potential of a series rather than a ripping good plot in a well written story.

In my opinion there can be very few people like that as writing is really hard work at times. Does this mean that the rest of us that write do it, as I do, because I have to. There isn't a choice, all these ideas and stories coming bubbling into my head and are not willing to be ignored. I can imagine them knocking frantically on the door to my brain desperate to be the one that is let in.

I see writing as a craft that has to be honed like sewing, painting or sculpture etc. You need to practice in order to make your writing the best it can be. The proliferation of creative writing degress both at undergraduate and postgraduate level must help with that. Having said that if you need to write you are going to whether you have a degree in it or not. That must never be prevented, nor must we make people who haven't got a degree feel they shouldn't even bother. As with any craft there are going to be naturally talented people.

The most important thought of today, if you want to write, write. Don't wait to be told, don't think you shouldn't, just do it. It doesn't matter if no one ever sees it. It will make you feel good when you do it.

That's it folks, my thought of today, I'm off to write now ;-)