Comments on: Why I Write…

By: Portia Da Costa

Portia Da Costa — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 14:29:06 +0000

I can’t really say why I write… and sometimes there are days when I really don’t want to! But eventually, it always comes back to that compulsion to get back to the laptop and start telling someone’s story, and writing down ideas that just won’t leave my brain alone.

By: Merry

Merry — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 11:33:21 +0000

Great post, Helen and one I can relate to. I’ve stopped/started writing a number of times over the years. But out comes the notebook, and down go various ideas for stories/ scenes and I feel compelled to flesh them out and see where I can take them.

Sven has been great for me this time around. My word count has been modest, but relatively steady, and I’ve felt a real sense of achievement the more I write. Knowing that others are doing the same thing and we’re all supporting each other also gives me a boost - I’m not just a writer working in a corner on my own. If the ideas won’t go away, you just have to keep soldiering on!

By: B.L. Foxxe

B.L. Foxxe — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 03:34:17 +0000

Meh, I’m beginning to think the writers are the normal people

By: Karen Duvall

Karen Duvall — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 02:30:21 +0000

Sometimes I do ask myself why I write and I always come up with the same answer as Silke: because I can’t *not* write.

I took two of my cats to the vet today for their annual shots, and my vet is a good friend who’s also a writer. He was lamenting to me about his failure to write a word since June, and he felt that he was really letting himself down because he loves to write. But I can totally relate to where he’s at because I’ve been there, too, lots of times. Telling myself I’ll get back to the book as soon as such and such is over, or when XYZ happens, or when hell freezes over. And then I’d suddenly get inspired by something and zing, I was back at it again.

The creative process is a funny thing for some of us. There are those writers whose writing is as habitual and life-giving as breathing, and then there are others who need a cattle prod to do what they love to do. Let’s face it, we’re all a bunch of weirdos, lol! 8^)

By: Anna Black

Anna Black — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 10:52:22 +0000

Great post and one I needed to hear right now. Thanks!

By: Silke

Silke — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 10:01:41 +0000

I can only tell you that I write…. because I can’t *not* write.
If you took my pens, keyboard and everything away… you do not want to know what I’d do. Because I would find a way - and where there is a will, there is a wall.

By: B.L. Foxxe

B.L. Foxxe — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 08:46:09 +0000

Hi Helen,

I’ve experienced all of those frustrating moments. Fortunately I am slowly but surely learning different ways of managing my work. Whether writing a rough outline/first draft at first, or simply directing what I’m writing in another.

Watching movies is always good. Means there’ll be something else out there one of these days.