Why Write?
September 7, 2011
This week, while reading Donald Maass’s excellent book on writing*, I cringed with new awareness of problems in my novel. Maass, plus feedback from an agent who read the entire manuscript, gives me direction for improvement. Yet, rewriting is a big job that starts with reviewing the basic plot and may mean throwing away dozens of pages. Am I downhearted? A bit. So I went to bed last night asking myself if I have the energy, time (i.e. willingness to sacrifice other activities), determination, and skill to revise my novel so that it’s as good as it can be.
Which took me back to the fundamental question—why write?
On the positive side, I have something to say, based on tons of life experiences, i.e., I’m no spring chicken.
On the negative side, perhaps I express my opinion too often.
But does that mean I put in my two cents worth on every topic of conversation? Of course not! I don’t keep up on all the issues, much less have an opinion about them.
Another consideration is that my writing tends to be sparse and it lacks the richness of style, vocabulary, or depth of, say, Steinbeck, Twain, Elizabeth Moon, or Sue Monk Kidd.
But on the positive side, my take on life is unique. Everyone’s view is! My brother’s childhood experiences, for example, are vastly different from mine because of birth order, gender, his many surgeries, and the places he lived after I left home. It would be fantastic, in my opinion, if he wrote his memoirs someday, perhaps titled, “The Family According to Doug.”
In addition, I believe that what I want to write needs to be said. Writing helps me make sense of life and culture for myself, especially when there are inconsistencies in popular views. I want as many people as possible to read my work. Yes, I’m passionate about it.
On the negative side, my internal editor makes me wonder if I’ll ever be satisfied, after all is said and done, that my book is as good as it can be. For, I don’t always think logically, am too subjective to catch problems until hundreds of words later, hate criticism (I don’t know anyone who likes it!), and continually battle my internal editor.
But, on the positive side, I want to reinforce the truths I’ve learned about life. I feel compelled to show how the transcendent parts of us humans “play out” (or emerge, endure, stand strong) under pressures of youth, hardship, victory, unfairness, success, ageing, and death. I want to share the joys I’ve discovered.
Why do you write?
*Writing the Breakout Novel, by Donald Maass, 2001.
http://www.maassagency.com/books.html
You raise a very interesting question, Norma. Why write, indeed? I think Rainer Maria Rilke said it best when he advised young poets to write only if they could not do otherwise. When I have written, it’s because I couldn’t do otherwise at the time. Currently, I’m not writing. I can only reason it’s because I can do otherwise!
I can see why Rilke would say that–the reward seldom matches the labor. So, are we crazy, or what? : ) I appreciate your input, Judy!
I am not a writer, however I most certainly am a reader who is grateful for all you authors out there! So, the question your post raised for me is “Why do I read?”
1. To learn. Both fiction and non-fiction teach me about the world I live in and allow me to explore experiences and opinions that are different from mine.
2. The joy of words. An authors’ ability to capture just the right combination of words to express a thought. Our culture is full of sloppy communication, so I delight in discovering an author who uses words well.
I appreciate your reasons for reading. Funny you should mention your enjoyment of authors who use words well. In the original version of this post, I alternated the phrases “on one hand” and “on the other hand”, but chose to edit them out after a friend on Facebook commented that she wondered how many hands I had, lol. Thanks for your comment, Diane!
All these are good questions, Norma. It is good that you are thinking it through. Writers think of their work as a mother thinks of her babies. It is hard for any mom when someone criticizes her child. Ditto how we think of editors ripping our work apart. Writing is a craft, and a good book is worth the time it takes to read it because the writer took the time and effort to make it readable and interesting. It is a lot of effort, but I don’t see you as doing anything half-way. I believe that your book will be excellent by the time you finish writing it! Go for it!
Had to laugh at your comments about criticism, because they’re so true. Thanks for reading my blog, Suz, and for your vote of confidence!