Why Do You Write?

Every writer must eventually ask themselves why they write. Everything represents something when it comes to being human, whether we like the idea or not. Humans are a very symbolic race and every day we are immersed in symbols and, in many ways, driven by things that are symbolized by other things.

There have been countless writers and poets who have waxed poetically on what it means to write. In fact, many have intermingled and overused the words “soul”, “essence”, and “spirit” into the definition to such an extent that the craft of writing is deified beyond what it really is.

To some writers, writing could represent their desire for fame or recognition. For others it could go as far as representing their value as a human being (“I am valuable because I have the gift of writing.”) or their means of distinguishing themselves from everyone else. Some writers may have more lofty altruistic definitions than others, while other writers may sway towards the practical.

But the question, here, is this—if you’re a writer, what does writing represent to you? Or, more to the point, why do you write?