Why I Write

I often am asked by people why I write.  It seems like such a simple question, and I am sure many who ask it expect a simple answer.  What they do not realize is the motivations for someone writing can be complex and vary widely from person to person.  Some are looking for fame or glory, others to win the hearts of a nation, and still others seek to destroy and tear down with their words.

So why do I write?  I have always written stories from the time I first learned to write (before that I told a lot of stories).  I think at first I wrote to entertain myself and others - the nature of my writings certainly reflected that motivation.  As I have grown older I have found writing to be the best form of therapy out there.  Writing fiction can help me "escape" from my own problems and take a walk in another world.  These forays into the imagined can be like a breath of fresh air for the mind.  I often find after a fictitious excursion I have new-found perspective on my problems and challenges.  Fiction writing is not the only type that helps me clear my mind.  Sometimes when I find myself facing especially daunting challenges I write out what the problem is, what I am thinking about it, and different solutions there may be.  Oftentimes this generates creative solutions I believe would not have come about through other means.

I write also because it is something I cannot separate from myself.  The days I have not written just do not feel right - I am full of discontent.  The same has been true of the days I have not read.  Now I feed myself with a steady diet of both.  Often the more I write the better I feel about everything.  Like I said, it is the best therapy I know.

Welcome to my blog!

I launched this blog to get the word out about my various writing projects.  Right now, I am maintaining two columns on Examiner.com:  one about the paranormal and one on auto news.  I add to both those columns regularly.  Also, I will be announcing new writing projects I have undertaken, so stay tuned!  Thanks for visiting my blog!

Steven