Writing

[lady_karelia]

To all who write, I'm curious. Why do you write? I'm genuinely curious, and I don't want anyone to draw ideas from others' comments, so I'm screening comments for a day or two. I just want a really honest opinion. And if you don't want your comment to be seen, say so, and I won't unscreen it. I'm just really curious.

Comments

[dhark-charlotte.livejournal.com]

I had never thought about writing anything before 2006. I started out in the BtVS fandom, reading tons of fic, wincing at atrocious grammar... And then I volunteered to beta for someone. I know I should have probably researched a little on how one actually betas, but I didn't, ended up practically rewriting this girl's fic for her (many, many stories) and then we moved. I was able to extricate myself from her and suddenly found - crossovers. HP was my first crossover and goodness me... I fell in LOVE and had ideas and then wrote these little bits of dialog that wouldn't leave me alone.

Ended up with a 23 chapter fic that took me 22 months to write. I'd love to have the time to go back and smooth it out.

Severus and Drusilla were my muses back then.

So I guess I caught the writing bug from editing others' work and now I document all of my ideas whether big or small. I've even started growing characters for an original fiction... *scary huh?

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

Not scary! :D I think we all, or most of us at least, reach the stage where we outgrow a fandom and devote more time to original works. And that's quite a natural progress, I think, because playing in another's universe does have its limitations.

[vanityfair00.livejournal.com]

I started because I realized I missed writing papers for school. Hard to believe but I used to get really excited about some of the papers I wrote, especially for my history and poly sci classes. Then it was because I was bored out of my mind living in small town France where I had no friends, TV, or internet. Later when I moved home and had things to do it was because there weren't enough stories out there that I wanted to read so I wrote what I wanted to see.

Since my HP muse has seemingly dried up most of my writing takes the form of blogging about life as an expat in Japan and that really is more about communicating with my friends and family back home. But mostly I write because I have something to say, because I have a sense of accomplishment when I finish, and because I amuse myself and hopefully others with my words.

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

it was because there weren't enough stories out there that I wanted to read so I wrote what I wanted to see.

That's totally true for me, too.

I love your blog posts, by the way, even though I'm terrible with commenting. But I do love the glimpses you give us into life on a different continent and all your adventures. :)

[melenka.livejournal.com]

Because I need to tell stories and folks are getting tired of the ones I tell about myself. Because there are all these ideas, thoughts, words, swirling around in my head all the time. I think in prose, especially when I'm driving. I hear the cadence of speech and remember odd snippets. I think that is too big a hint from the universe to ignore.

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

I agree about the hint from the universe! Funny, when I'm stuck with writing, the first thing I do is go for a drive or brisk walk. Then the characters tend to talk again, and when I get home, I can write again. :D

[elise-wanderer.livejournal.com]

Why do I write? Sometimes (as with research papers) it's to make money, though that's never the only reason. Sometimes it's to communicate essential information (when I'm outlining a program I want to put in place with my theatre company, for instance) or silly stuff (why my inability to peel hard boiled eggs is an ongoing source of frustration). Sometimes it's to provide a monologue that displays my acting abilities. Sometimes it's to express a sensation or an emotion or a truth I think I've understood (a lot of my poetry comes from that impulse). Sometimes it's because I have a story I just have to tell, and I want to hear how people reading it will react.

Sometimes it's simply because the act of typing out words, of finding a structure and syntax and rhythm and balance that satisfy me is such a wonderful art. Through writing, I can create something tangible and connected from nothing--from dust and symbols and organization and design. I love writing, I am amazed by it, I share myself through the act of writing, and I revel in its possibilities.

Mostly, I write because I can. I write because it's easy--and because it's completely impossible. I write because I have to.

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

I'm fascinated by your take because you offer a different angle to producing words for effect, not just writing, but acting/speaking.

I write because I have to.

That rings very true for me as well.

[mazzy2121.livejournal.com]

I can't truly pinpoint when or why I started writing, but I can tell you what writing 'does for me' and maybe that will shed some light??

It basically serves two purposes: artistic release (because I can't draw or paint or sing -- or even cook, truth be told), and it's an escape from the "daily grind".

I've made up little stories since I was a kid, but I didn't start writing for people to read until Harry Potter, and even then it was a gradual transition from stream-of-thought writing to a style that would (hopefully) allow others to "see" what I see in my head in a given scene.

The latter, I've found, is much more fun and allows me to get lost in the fantasy/story/scene for a moment and leave the mundane behind - just as the HP books themselves did for me. (Clarification: That sounds like I'm 'putting myself into the story', aka: Mary Sue, but I don't "see" it like I'm there living it so much as like a movie in my head in which I can see the strugles of the characters, relate to their emotions, and enjoy their triumphs with them - not "as" them.)

And that's pretty much it. A long winded way of saying that its an escape and allows the kid in me to come out and play. :)

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

Thank you for sharing, Mazzy! Using it as an escape--I think we all do that to a certain extent at least. I know I can get lost in thinking up scenes, and when I'm forced back into reality, it feels like returning from a different planet.

And if we all allowed our inner child to come out and play, the world would be a more peaceful place. :D

[sbrande.livejournal.com]

It is more an outlet for me. I get a brilliant idea (or not so brilliant depending on the way you look at it) for an original story (SS/HG of course) and I just feel that I have to share it.

I can't seem to keep it simple however, and they always turn into epics as everyone wants their own 15 minutes (or ch) of glory. Bloody characters.

Loves you, Sonia :)

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

Not keeping it simple can be a good thing with writing, I think. And it's wonderful when the characters become real and decide where the story goes, isn't it? :D

[melusin-79.livejournal.com]

I started writing out of sheer annoyance at certain fics in the ship. Once I began, things just burst out of me. It was certainly fun at the start and cathartic too, but now I sometimes wonder if I'm doing it because I still enjoy it or I feel i have to. I just wish I had an idea for an o-fic I could really get my teeth into.

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

That's interesting. I'm still at the stage where I have to write, it's sort of like having to eat, and I never think about the consequences. O-fic, I think, is a long-term process. I know it's been for me. It started off with a vague idea, then a few months later morphed into something more concrete, but then took an entirely different route. I find it tremendously fun to create a world.

[persevero.livejournal.com]

Most people seem to say they've had a compulsion to write fiction since they first put pencil to exercise book, and that was initially true of me (my mother keeps a stapled-together wad of paper entitled 'Detecshun Mistri Horro' dated just after my fifth birthday and containing a ghost story) but school soon squashed it. There was a one-off flare when I sat the 'Use of English' exam that used to be a requirement for scientists doing Oxbridge entrance, when I squirrelled the composition title 'What My Life Will Be Like In Old Age' into a pastiche of Rose Macauley's The Towers of Trebizond - I was so overcome with my own humour that I laughed out loud in the exam room - but I wrote no fiction after that for three decades. Even when I read my first few SSHGs I thought that I would forever be a consumer rather than a creator, or a beta at best. But then a hardback notebook started filling up during the kids' swimming lessons, against my better judgment and almost against my natural inclinations. It is only recently that I've realised that I have always told myself stories in my head any time that my hands are occupied but my brain is not (sewing, driving) or when I can't sleep. The actual writing is surprisingly hard for me; well, it surprises me because I am a ready and fluent writer of non-fiction: I actually enjoy writing essays. I am not naturally suited to the process of writing fiction (dialogue is especially hard) but I have a compulsion to work an idea out and express it somehow. Very, very slowly...

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

Thank you for sharing. I used to write as a child; as a teenager, I contributed to the high school magazine writing fairy tales, lol.

Writing slowly is not a bad thing I'd say. I used to find it fascinating how some writers can produce 4k in one evening whereas I feel highly accomplished if I write more than 500 words in a day. Then, of course, adminning taught me that often, the fast writers are the ones who take short-cuts with editing, and with many, it comes down to sloppiness. Writing slowly effectively means you think a lot about what you write, which generally shows in more complexity of the plot/characterisation and cleaner work, so I find that definitely positive. There is, maybe, one fast writer out of a hundred who can actually produce decent work. The majority cannot, and if they do, it shows. Of course, sloppiness with editing is my pet peeve, LOL.

[madamsnape.livejournal.com]

I write because it provides me the freedom I long to have in real life.

I can travel anywhere, do anything, meet anyone.

It allows me to create something in what could otherwise be a very boring day... and because I get a nagging feeling to write, if I don't.

And it's addictive... I get to meet new people, talk about things. If I stopped, I'd have to give that up. And I don't think I'd be able to do that!

I don't mind if you unscreen this comment ;p

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

I've never really thought about this aspect (the freedom writing allows me), but it rings very true now that I'm thinking about it.

I absolutely agree that it's addictive! ;)

[kizzy7.livejournal.com]

Oohh, this is very interesting to think about. Personally, I write first and foremost because I enjoy writing. Always have. I have many, many pages of stories that I wrote when I was a kid. In second grade, I finished my first story which is hilarious to read now. About a girl who finds a treasure buried in her backyard, lol. I've written my whole life, and when I found sshg, it just seemed right.

So now, for me, its a fun, intelligent hobby I have. I am learning how to be a better writer, meeting many lovely people with the same interest! And nothing beats the feeling of getting an idea that WANTS to be written, like you need to exorcise it. Writing is addictive and soothing and difficult and frustrating and just exhilarating when you've finished something of which you can be proud. Not much beats that feeling.

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

I'm fascinated by all the various responses. :D

I totally agree on the feeling about the idea that wants to be written, and, oh, yes, addictive and all else you said; I totally agree with that!

[annietalbot.livejournal.com]

That may be a question for the ages... I don't really feel as if I have a choice. I write because the stories are there, and the characters want to tell those stories.

It's a compulsion, really, and one that is necessary for my overall health.

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

Compulsion, that's very true. I can't imagine not to write. All the different responses fascinate me, and I'm astounded how many aspects ring true for me. :D

[irishredlass69.livejournal.com]

Why do I write? That is a multi-faceted question, because it depends on what I am writing.

If I am writing poetry it is usually because there is something deep inside I need to get out and the only way I can express it is in verse.

If I am writing technically it is because I have to for work.

Then there is fanfiction. I write fanfiction for the challenge (hmm who was the one who originally challenged me?). I am not an aspiring author driven to create, but someone who simply tries new things. I find the writing of fanfiction to be the most difficult avenue I have explored. I have very little faith in my own imagination and/or abilities.

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

When I wrote the post, I initially thought of fiction, fanfic or otherwise, but it's quite refreshing to be reminded that other forms of writing exist, too. LOL :D

Thank you for sharing!

Faith, I think is overrated. I tend to see writing as a stream of consciousness happening. Once it's done, I can always go back and either make it better or delete.

[miamadwyn.livejournal.com]

I write so that I can feel... but it only works if I make others feel, too.

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

That makes sense, too. I often find that I can communicate my emotions much better when I write it all down. I'm not much of a talker, lol.

[juniperus.livejournal.com]

I blogged for years but it wasn't very satisfying, overall... sure, being known to others in the profession was kind of interesting, but writing about academia and my experiences there didn't quite engage me (and it was rather too soul-revealing a lot of the time... I don't mind being seen, but I don't like being Seen, not by perfect strangers.. if You know what I mean). So, approaching two years ago I finally read my first piece of fanfic, and I was intrigued. The author-friend who got me to read her stuff eventually poked me into writing (about a year and a half ago). And I never knew I liked to write, that I was so very fond of words, of constructions, of playing.

I write for me, because I love the words. And, I find, I love making people squee, so that's a nice piece, too. But mainly, I think I write for the stories and the characters. I want to put the emotions I feel and the images in my head down in a way that they can be shared, and although I don't know that I'm always successful, I do enjoy the attempt. :) And I like finding new ways of writing that makes my very loudmouthed inner critic stutter and shut up, she's been the death of me for more years than I can count.

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

I write for me, because I love the words.

I love what you say here. Thank you for sharing it. Sometimes, some forget that writing isn't about receiving reviews but a process of communicating, often an inevitable one.

[voxangelus.livejournal.com]

I write because it isn't easy. It doesn't matter how much I write, or what, or even if my SPaG gets better - writing is still challenging. I don't feel that I have some inner wisdom to impart or anything like that - I like to write because it can be fun and it's difficult.

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

*grins* I love that answer. It's a wonderful reason to write! I don't think I'll ever find it easy. Sometimes, a paragraph or two seem to write themselves, and I feel tremendously accomplished because it was, well, easy, but it never happens long enough for me to lose that feeling of accomplishment. :D

[stefdarlin.livejournal.com]

Hm, to me I think an easier question would have been: Why are you alive? LOL. But, really, I write for many reasons. However, the main reason is for myself. Because I truly get enjoyment from it. It is nice to see the ideas in my head on paper, even if they are crazy, idealism, or just plain weird. It also gives me a way to get those ideas out of my head before I forget them.

When I was younger, I wrote lots of poetry. I used it as an escape if I didn't like what was going on around me. It helped me with my feelings and emotions, and perhaps any anger issues I had. I think it would be correct to say I still do that, though I haven't written much poetry lately.

Ever since I can remember, I have always wanted to write and be a writer. But I am learning it takes more than just the desire. However, since it is something I want to do, I think it is worth striving to become better. I have learned more in the last year than I learned in my entire life. I thank you for that.

~Stef~

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

Poetry is something I love to read, but I've never been able to write it beyond the odd limerick or haiku, and then quite poorly. Writing fic comes somewhat easier to me.

I think we've all learned a lot since the first chapter we wrote. It's a natural thing, as in practice makes perfect, I think. ;)

Aw, thank you for your kind words! It takes quite a bit of willingness to work on improvement, and I think I do no more than pushing you in the right direction. You are the one who's doing the work. :D

[alabastard.livejournal.com]

I write because I am compelled to write, for myself or as gifts to friends from time to time. Something gets into my head and it must be expressed. I am also compelled to edit and revise, as if perpetually honing a sculpture, there is that fine line where enough is enough. When I reach that point, when I feel I have a finished product, I may even share, though don't hold your breath ;-) It's therapeutic to me, and crosses over into art, and acting, all these facets of a world very real to Me, and as I have found, to others as well. I can draw but cannot paint, and words add colour to my black and white renditions, which are then further projected in person through characters and worlds I've adopted.

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

As so often, what you say completely resonates with me. Including the need to edit and revise, lol. I do a lot of that, and sometimes I wish I worked a bit faster, but then again, I cannot because that wouldn't be me.

I so hope you'll share your writings one day!

[silverdoe7127.livejournal.com]

I didn't discover fanfiction until after book 7, when my disappointment forced me to find something more. For as long as I can remember, I have always made up stories in my head. something to keep me occupied during mundane tasks, when driving a long distance, or to help me fall asleep. Some of these stories made in onto paper and are in a file, others have been scrapped. What I didn't realize was that all this time many of the stories in my head were a form of fanfiction. The original stories are the ones that I actually wrote down. I write to get them out of my head. I write to calm myself down. I write things I would want to read. My writing is personal. I write it for me. I may not be good at it, but it's mine. A part of me that will still be here when I am gone.

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

I think being good at it or not becomes a very objective thing once you've learned the basics. In a way, I also find it's secondary, after I'm happy that I've written something, that I write some more, that eventually, there is an entire story I told.

I, too, find driving incredibly helpful. I do it when I'm stuck with plot, even if it's just for a few miles, but it works perfectly well for me, and I far prefer it over cleaning the kitchen, LOL.

Thank you for sharing!

[subvers.livejournal.com]

I've wanted to tell stories since I was a very little girl. I remember beginning to hand write (and illustrate) my first "novel" when I was nine years old. My parents scoffed at such an ambition, and I did not pursue it, other than for the odd one page here or there. When I discovered fan fiction and saw that some of it was terrific and some good and some fair and some poor, I thought I could find a niche in there for myself. I write because it's read and reviewed; I write because it makes me feel good about myself to accomplish it and to be praised for it; I write because my family supports my in the endeavour; I write because I have stories to tell and a willing audience to read them.

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

*icon love*

Your words remind me just how much fanfic has done for so many of us. I did not write for years after leaving home. At school, I used to write short fairy tales for the school magazine. Then I left the country and spent years making another language my own. And it was finally through discovering fanfic that I started writing again, this time in English.

Thanks for sharing, dear Subversa!

[organic-chemist.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. Why do I breathe? ;)

I've written stories, ficlets, etc. since I was quite young. It was yet another creative outlet for me. Nowadays, it's a good way to get thoughts on paper. I always have some plot bunny running 'round in my head, and to get the bunny to leave me alone, I write down the thoughts, and if I'm lucky (or if the Muse allows it), those thoughts just might lead to a coherent story.

I can't honestly say it's my life - at this point, music occupies that slot - but it's a good thing to do when I'm not practicing.

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

I hear you on the music being first. I once thought quite hard about it, and then finally I had to admit to myself that I can live without music (albeit very miserably), but life simply would be of a far lesser quality if I couldn't write.

Writing down the thoughts... I do that a lot, too. I even have a mic for the iPod in case I can't write, like when I'm driving. I'm not obsessed or anything, really. LOL :)

[abitofadork7.livejournal.com]

I don't care if you screen this or not, but I write because it's my way of relaxing.

It's my creative outlet, to discover a new world, a new bunch of people to write about.

I write the stories I do because they aren't there yet.

...Writing is like letting go, and discovering more about yourself through what you put on the page.

But that's just me. I don't know about everyone else. :-)

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

I totally hear you on the relaxing bit and very much agree.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts here. I think it's wonderful to have so many different replies and from such a wide variety of age. :D

[writermerrin.livejournal.com]

Hmm, mostly I write because bunnies attack me. Ideas form in my head and keep spinning around in my brain, and I can't focus on anything else until I get them down on page.

I was talking to a gal I used to teach with. She was telling me some of her adventures in homeschooling and mentioned how active my imagination is. I guess that's really it. Overactive imagination.

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

I'm imagining the bunnies biting at your ankles. ;)

I don't think an imagination can be overactive where writing is concerned. I mean, the more active it is, the more plot there is likely to be, no?

[luvsev.livejournal.com]

I use writing as a means to exorcise my inner daemons, and sometimes to escape reality. It is my world within a world where I can control what happens.

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

I think that's a very, very valid reason to write!

[brandy-girl01.livejournal.com]

I write because I like it... It gives me something to do to break up the boring monotony of my life, and I just genuinely like it ;p

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Valid reasons, all of them. :)

[sshg316.livejournal.com]

Fascinating question, and you really made me think about it. For once, however, I shall be brief. :D

I write to get the story out of my head ... and because I think maybe someone other than me might enjoy it.

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

Yes, very good reasons. Shame you were so brief about it. ;)