Why Do I Write?
So…why do I write? I mean there are many other ways of self expression. Now it has become my dream to write for a living. Here’s how I believe I got here:
Journaling
I truly believe that journaling throughout my life has shown me the clarity and healing that comes through writing. Believe it or not, simply writing down how you feel has immense power. Writing gets it out of your heart, out of your head, out of your soul and onto a page. It makes your issues visible, in plain sight, and not as scary. It gives a permanent home to your dreams and proves to you that they are indeed real and impossible. It can also just make things clearer for you. Journaling doesn’t have to be the age-old “Dear Diary..”, but instead can look like a chart, a graph, bullet points, a poem. This is one of the most basic forms of human communication and problem solving.
I also have a deep appreciation for art. Good books aren’t simply just stories, but are someone’s journal entry. They are just written so well that you don’t notice. They hide their fears in the events that drive the protagonist onto their adventure. The artist hides their insecurities in the great features of the side character. They display their inner voice through the narration. They show their mood through the setting and their dreams through the scenery. After all, these stories come from a real person’s mind. Of course, this is not a guarantee and some writing might truly just be for enjoyment rather than personal expression. That brings me into my next point.
Enjoyment
I think that most writers start as readers. Now, I may not read much these days (especially compared to how much I write) but I used to read many books growing up. It’s what I did before bed. I adored trips to Barnes & Noble as a kid. The smell of freshly printed books and the feeling in my hand of the cover and pages. Truly iconic.
Since I have read many amazing stories and concepts, it’s only natural that I would want to do that myself! I want to give others the similar feeling that I had when I read mind-blowing plot twists or beautiful settings. I want them to see themselves in the characters that I create or in the words that I piece together for a poem. All in my own way.
Now I get to hold physical copies of my own books that I wrote and created from a single idea. That is truly something special, and I am extremely blessed for that.
The Vibes
Writing is just plain cozy. I love my quiet spaces, my headphones, a coffee, and nothing else to do. I love the peace and silence. I love the endless possibility of what you can create. I love the freedom of words. I feel so proud seeing pages upon pages of my next project on Google Docs. I like libraries and coffee shops. I like the rainy days that you spend inside. Of course, these are very stereotypical ideas of writing and being a writer, yet I enjoy these tropes. It’s part of what drew me to this passion.
My Own Style
This point is a little more abstract. I simply love making my personal ideas come into fruition. I want each of my books to be deserving of an art gallery. I want the covers and pictures to speak volumes. I want the fonts to bring emotion. I want the layout to be simple and intentional. I don’t want to create slop, I want to create a masterpiece. I think that it a big part of what pushes me forward in writing. This is what pushes me to be a “great” writer, whatever that means.
