I came across this question a few days ago in a book I’m presently fingering my way through. Not really committed to the pages yet, allowing my hands and fingers to float over the pages/letters until something catches my eye.

Why do you write?

I have written for various reasons throughout my life. The most common reason being I didn’t have anyone to talk with during times when I needed to so very much. The lines and margins of my notebooks became my friend. I initially wrote to release what I didn’t want to tell anyone else. The secret crushes, strange occurrences in my body; the heart breaks, disappointments. I wrote to document abuse at the hands of others and myself. One time my words were discovered and read by uninvited eyes. I was judge and punished, never asked about content. So I stopped, writing.

When I picked up pen again , it was to connect. I wanted to belong, so I wrote to reach out to others in the hopes they’d reach back. I wrote when my heart couldn’t contain the intensity of emotions experienced in relationships. I wrote as an invitation into my world as I see and feel it. Until my words were stolen, violated and turned against me. I stopped writing, again.

I have never been able not to write. Journal, rant, flow whatever you wanna call it. I wanted to be a writer, even more after a few people commented ” you write well.” I decided to take a few courses to develop my style. Intimidated, I stopped writing.

So why do I write?

I write to feel, to give what’s inside a space to breathe outside of me. I write to share me because i’m still longing to connect with others who also want to find words to express what’s inside them. As much as I’ve run from this activity. I can’t stop

Writing.