Why DO we write? 20th August 2010

I feel inspired today, truly inspired to write about our motivation to write.

Go on, have fun deconstructing that one.

We all believe we have our own unique reason for writing, and on one level that’s absolutely correct, but on another, a deeper level we all write for the exact same reason. I am talking about fiction here, not non-fiction - the need for the distinction will become clear.

This particular entry is inspired by the post one of my friends put on her Facebook status, one that was very apt and at the same time funny. Several of our mutual friends commented back, basically agreeing with her and comparing her reason for writing with real life. Although her post was light hearted, it contains a kernel of real hard truth.

So why do we write?

What is the think that links my desire to write alternative military history with her desire to write cracking good romance stories, or another friends equally good fantasy novels or another’s superb historical romances? I have friends that write in virtually all genres, from horror through to the hot stuff.

The answer is simple, in fact so simple you can spell it out in one word.

C...O...N...T...R...O...L

That’s it – that’s the big secret to what motivates us to write?

Do you see it, or should I spell it out in smaller steps? You know I’m going to anyway – right?

Step 1. Fiction is a major form of escapism – we read a book to escape into another world, it may be another dimension or it may be simply a different part of the same world.

Step 2. If we read fiction in order to escape then surely we are writing it to escape to.

Step 3. The reader is forced, by the confines of the book, to escape into a realm confined and constrained by the words of another.

Step 4. This should by now be obvious. If you, the writer, produce those constraints for others then you are the one in control.

Deep down, one of our underlying motivations as writers is to manufacture our “world” where we are in control of what happens, what is said and how people react.

So there you have it.

Every novelist is at the bottom of it all a control freak.

We are all control freaks. I am a control freak.

You have been warned. LOL