Why?

Jennifer looks at why we write.

We all talk about how we are writers, implying that writing is a “job.” It might not be our only job, but we learn about it, perfect our craft, schedule time to devote to it and market our books. Even if we’re not yet published, we attend conferences and take classes, read books and devote hours to it. No one could call it merely a hobby.

But what do we get out of it? Putting aside the whole “publish a book” aspect of it, what makes us write? Is it a calling? Does it silence the voices in our heads? Is it a way to make our world a more perfect place?

For me, reading is a way to escape, and writing often provides that for me too. When I’m in the groove, all the daily stressors disappear and I disappear into a world where I can create all the drama, and fix all the problems. It’s cathartic to make my hero or heroine say the things I might wish to say in a similar situation. It’s satisfying to tie up all the loose ends and even to create an ending that is so much better than a situation might be in real life.

And it’s cheaper than therapy. ;)