Three Reasons To Write

When I was in high school, I was a self-professed “math and science geek”. Well, perhaps I didn’t use the word “geek” as such, but my grades made it quite apparent that that was where my academic strengths were at the time. In contrast, English was my worst subject. English always consisted of reading books that someone told me were important or epic that usually ended up being irrelevant or downright boring. This always ended up in a litany of book reviews and reports.

And then there was my senior year – and the much-dreaded Canadian literature class.

At the time, I was convinced that “Canadian literature” was a bit of a misnomer. As a high school senior with an interest in calculus and physics, it was hard to fathom many Canadian authors worth studying. But it was in this same class that we were given an assignment to either write a book review of a Canadian author of your choice, or to select a Canadian musician and review their lyrical content. Suddenly, writing had some degree of personal relevance. This got me to explore my thoughts on issues relevant to my world, and to do so on the written page. I discovered that the writing process was, well, almost enjoyable.

I can’t say that I started off writing because it was something that I felt a natural talent or inclination to do. But now, I am thankful that it is a part of my daily world. So now I am left to ask – why do I write?

As I can now see, there are three reasons to write. I suspect that these reasons exist, to some degree or another, for most bloggers and writers of the modern era.

1. Discussion. One of the things that sets us apart as a species is the ability to think. Combine this with free speech, and the “power of the pen” can truly stimulate thought, discussion, and change. There are times when that same discussion creates greater understanding of the world around us. Writing can be a means to an end – to stimulate discussion, if nothing else.

2. Sharing. The ability to share information, knowledge, insight, or perhaps just some humor, is a great reason to write. Writing can be a lot like mentorship – sharing your world because, well, maybe that will have an impact on someone, somewhere, somehow. By sharing knowledge and insights and perspectives, we contribute to and build community. And that makes the world better for all of us.

3. Self-discovery. This has probably been the most important reason for me over the years. The process of writing can be cathartic. When I went off to university, I discovered that getting my thoughts on paper helped me understand me. Through writing (and music), I got to know myself a little better. It’s always been that way. Those same words, so many years later, still provide me with food for thought. Once you’ve written something, you can then breath a sigh of relief that it is no longer floating through your brain. You don’t have to stay focused on it mentally. Don’t worry, it’s been committed to paper and you can let it go for the time being. The great thing is that you can then reflect on what you’ve written and make better sense of it. This promotes an environment for personal growth and learning.

Perhaps there should be a reason #4 - I truly enjoy the process of writing. The process of thinking, reflecting, creating – it is a thing of beauty. Writing can, at times, feel like a daunting task. But if you simply let it flow, let it be an organic process, it can bring great joy to you – and your world. And that might just be the best reason of all.

Photo credit: Michael Hirst