WRITING PROMPT
Why Do You Write?
An invitation to share your thoughts // A Counter Arts Prompt
While Jennifer McDougall responded with a hilarious letter of concern to Will Hull’s stuck in a funk limerick, his words triggered me to respond with a prompt.
Why do we write? What are the reasons? What’s the motivation? The drive?
I know for me, it’s partially because I love sharing things I’ve learned. If anyone can steer clear of the mistakes I’ve made by reading about the lessons I’ve gathered, that’d be a good thing.
Writing has also become a new form of creative expression for me. For most of my life, I’ve expressed myself in the visual world through photography. Now, I’m on a new path of learning how to use my words.
But mostly, writing is a cathartic way to release what lives inside me.
I’m an introvert and often find myself as the listener in a conversation. I seem to have collected many friends who like to talk. Usually, this is fine with me as I’m already well acquainted with the rumblings inside my own head and heart. I’d rather hear about what’s rumbling inside everyone else’s.
But there are times when I’d like to share what’s on my mind. And when that chance arrives, a frustrating thing often happens. As I rush to grasp my moment to speak, I fumble. When the ideas in my head become words and exit my mouth, they often come out jumbled or aren't well-chosen. What I say never sounds as good as it did when it was in my head.
And then I wish I could grab some white-out. Backspace. Delete. Delete.
But when I write, I’m forced to pause. This gives my ideas a chance to grow and take shape. Writing then becomes the conduit for my words to better coalesce.
See? That sentence would never roll off my tongue when I speak. But it comes out when I write.
So I’m asking all of you out there — why do you write?
I invite you to share your stories. Your words. Your reasons. Your 2 cents.
kasey sparks, © 2021
As I was working on this post, oddly, I almost deleted it twice because two people I follow seemed to answer my prompt before I even posted it.
The first was when I read this great piece by Christopher Robin.
The second was when I came across this beautiful poem by Anthony O’Dugan. It so perfectly captures why I write as well.
But instead of deleting mine, I decided to use it to share their words. Give ‘em a read. You won’t be disappointed.
Tagging Will Hull Carlos Garbiras Jennifer McDougall Jack Lincoln Griz Emerson Squeeze the Avocado Lucy Dan 蛋小姐 (she/her/她) Mary Chang Story Writer Michelle Brown Vincent Pisano Vince Coliam Symphony Charles Amemiya Aimée Gramblin Divina Grey Gaby Rogut and anyone else who’d like to share. And be sure to tag me so I can read your thoughts and clap big.