 | 1 Jul 09 |
If you asked a dozen writers why they write, chances are at least 85% of them would answer . . . “Because I can’t not write.” Another 13% would probably give the same basic answer, only stated a little differently . . .
“I write for love of the art.”
“I write because I love words.”
“I write . . . because I am.”
All legitimate answers I suppose, but I have to admit the 85 percenter always baffled me. I mean I understand it intellectually. A person is so filled with the need to express themselves through the written word that they don’t truly feel complete unless and until they do write. I get it. But I think I’m too pragmatic to feel comfortable saying it. To me, I can NOT write, just like I can NOT bathe, shave my legs, pay taxes, wash dishes, or drive within the speed limit if I so choose. The only thing I can’t not do is live forever.
As for the last response I noted above, the “I write . . . because I am” thing, I really don’t get that one at all. The first time I heard someone give that answer—her chin raised, head tilted at a haughty angle, no doubt— I had to bite my tongue to keep from blurting out, “Because you ‘am’ . . . what? Snooty?” I know, I know, nasty thought. But I still think I deserve kudos for keeping my mouth shut.
What I truly find interesting are the answers from the last 2% of writers. They’re so varied and often hilariously, brutally honest, that I can’t help but feel a kinship to them. Some of their answers to the age-old question, “Why do you write?” include:
A shrug, followed by —Silence
—”Hell if I know.”
—”I just sorta fell into it.”
—”Beats tarring roofs.”
—”Because I’m a masochist?”
We all have a reason for doing what we do, no matter how schmaltzy, haughty, or funny that ‘why’ might be. Mine, for example, is a hodge-podge of reasons. I do believe writing is an art form, and I do love words, so much so I used to read the dictionary for fun when I was a kid. But the roots of why I write usually meander through the silent shrug, hell, falling, roofs, and masochism. Add to that mix the love of storytelling, and my why usually felt spot on. Until now that is.
Last week I received a note from an Indie store owner in California that not only left me speechless, it immediately redefined and clarified my WHY. The note’s below. (For anonymity’s sake, I changed the name.)
“Deb, one of my regulars came in a couple of days ago to pick up the book you signed at the mass in-store signing. He said he corresponds with you once in a while online, and his name is Sam Jones. Between you and I it was his chemo day and he was really weak and he was picking up the book to get his mind off of his illness. I have no idea whether or not he wants you to know. My personal belief is that he is dying of cancer and you are a light in his darkness.”
How could a note like that NOT change or clarify a writer’s why? Mine did a one-eighty and became Windex clear. Now whenever someone asks, “Deborah, why do you write?” my answer is simply . . .
“To make a difference.”
© 2009 Deborah LeBlanc. All rights reserved.
Deborah LeBlanc is an award-winning author and business owner from Lafayette, Louisiana. She's also a licensed death scene investigator and an active member of two national paranormal investigation teams.
She is the president of the Horror Writers Association, president of the Writers' Guild of Acadiana, president of Mystery Writers of America's Southwest Chapter, and an active member of Sisters in Crime, Novelists Inc, and International Thriller Writers Inc. In 2004, she created the LeBlanc Literacy Challenge, an annual national campaign designed to encourage more people to read, and founded Literacy Inc. a non-profit organization dedicated to fighting illiteracy in America’s teens. She also takes her passion for literacy and a powerful ability to motivate to high schools around the country.
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Damn. Yeah. That pretty much sums it up.
by Silver James July 1st, 2009 at 6:25 amYep, S.J., I think so, too.
by Deborah LeBlanc July 1st, 2009 at 7:50 amOoooo, chills. I could die happy after a note like that…lol. What a wonderful gift for you and him.
by Shannon Esposito July 1st, 2009 at 6:52 amWhy do I write? I hate this question. And I hate when people ask me what I do because the next question is “oh, have you gotten anything published?”
And I want to blurt out things about the odds of publishing, the competition, the years of sitting my butt in front of the computer in between feeding and changing babies, the rejection, the heartache, the fact that nobody reads anymore….
And then I remember. I am happy. Writing makes me happy. So, the other stuff doesn’t really matter. And I smile and say “some day”.
You know what’s a tad worse, Shannon? It’s when they ask why do you write, then ask if you’re published…when you ARE published but they’ve never heard of you. Just when it seems you’ve made it halfway up the dark pit of publishing by getting published, you realize that there’s still a whole lot more darkness to overcome. arggg!
by Deborah LeBlanc July 1st, 2009 at 7:55 amOr they say, “Cool — Have I heard of you?”
by Terry Odell July 1st, 2009 at 9:24 amMy mom died when my husband was in Iraq. I was her only child and had to deal w/ everything by myself and take care of 4 kids. Luckily MSW’s Jen released a book sometime later and I was very thankful. My mom had gotten me hooked on Jen’s books. Thank you Mom.
I have also spent lots of hours at Children’s Hospital w/ several of my kids and a good book helps me deal w/ everything.
That’s also a big part of why I write.
by HollyD July 1st, 2009 at 7:01 amI’m sorry you lost your mom, Holly, and that the road surrounding that loss has been so tough. You’re so right…a good book can help you get through almost anything. And YAY for Jen!
by Deborah LeBlanc July 1st, 2009 at 7:57 amAw, Holly, that is so sweet, and very sad. I’m glad my book helped, but I wish your husband could have been home with you during such a difficult time.
by Jen Lyon July 1st, 2009 at 4:30 pmI’m in tears now, wiping them off my keyboard. Every writer would kill to have someone say that about their writing.
I hate the are you published yet question more than the why do you write one. They usually follow that up with “my brother, uncle, nephew, take your pick published his book himself, have you thought of doing that?
I don’t want to self-publish. I want someone besides me to like it so much they want to see it in print.
Congrats on such a nice note.
by Jill James July 1st, 2009 at 12:27 pmUGHH, Jill, you’re so right about that self-pub thing! I’d forgotten about that little nasty…blah!
by Deborah LeBlanc July 1st, 2009 at 2:06 pmDeb, what a poingnet, powerful blog. You are touching lives in ways that simply can’t be measured.
by Jen Lyon July 1st, 2009 at 4:33 pmSo are you, Jen. So are you . . .
by Deborah July 1st, 2009 at 6:21 pmThanks Deb…now if only I could learn to spell poignant
Nothing like trying to type on three hours sleep!
by Jen Lyon July 1st, 2009 at 7:01 pmA letter like that couldn’t help but change your perspective. I don’t write, but would like to. However, I do read and readers have their own reasons. The answers would probably be very similar to the writers in percentages and content. About 85% would say “because I like to.” The other reasons would be more interesting, more touching and reflect back on the authors. For many of us, it is more than just liking to do it. You stories can make a difference in our lives.
by Patricia Barraclough July 1st, 2009 at 8:01 pmThanks so much for that thought-provoking perspective, Patricia.
by Deborah July 1st, 2009 at 8:36 pmWell said, Deborah!
by Debra Webb July 3rd, 2009 at 12:02 pm