I use writing just as I do reading; a means of escape from the mundane of daily life. Also, when I write Snape's character, it is more a form of catharsis – I give him a similar, if not more horrific, childhood to mine, and it's very therapeutic to allow him to vent and act out some of the frustrations and pain associated with abuse, and to give him someone to help him on the path of healing.

I also write as a means to connect with others, to bond with people I would have normally never met.