Omnilegencia

Why do we write?

One of my favorite writing communities is offered by Janna Maron of Under the Gum Tree fame, a respectable literary journal. Called More to the Story, it offers support for those writing nonfiction. Every week a question is posted to get our writerly brains to think and respond, which usually brings something to mind that causes me to ponder further. This week it was why do you write? The answers are across the board, but I have yet to see one that states: I want to write a Pulitzer Prize winning book, become filthy rich and super famous so I can live the rest of my life wallowing in success.

Do you know why?

Because we all are smart enough to know it just doesn’t happen. At least, not all of the above. And, if fame and wealth is all you’re going after, there are many easier ways to get there. Trust me when I say that writing is not the optimum choice. I will state publicly and loudly that writing is the most difficult thing I have ever done. And I’ve actually done a few difficult things, which include building a multi-million dollar company from scratch, and childbirth.

Writers spend hours alone, and in their heads. And those writing about personal experiences are also deep into their emotions. I remember feeling mentally battered and bruised as I delved into relationships with family that made me literally sick. And I’m not even talking abuse; mostly my feelings dealt with regret and guilt, along with anger. Great compassion had to work with absolute truth to get the right words on paper. Strong words? You bet. Many rewrites? You got it.

So. Why do writers write? Simple: we have to. For every reason that writers give, behind each one is that they simply can’t help themselves. It is a necessary action between thoughts and fingers. Writers are also bibliophiles, and more. Some of us tend to read all the time, including the information on cereal boxes. My eyes wander until they can rest on words. I have a stack of magazines and a few books piled on a stool next to the kitchen counter. Eating and reading are synonymous. I bet there’s even a term, a description for that. One I found is omnilegent. Miriam Webster defines this as: reading or having read everything. Sounds like an obsession, right? In my case, English is my second language, so I probably devoured words as a child in order to fit in.

Or, perhaps we writers all have a touch of masochism. Obsessive writers are driven people. The words we use to make sense of the world around us are priceless. They are essential to being grounded. Therapy, anyone? Which brings us to another subject better left for another blog…