Why We Write

Although the art of letter writing seems to have become as obsolete as inkwells, writing letters hasn’t disappeared – it’s just changed its form. We could blow the dust off our feather pens and dig out the parchment paper, but these days letter writing is much simpler (and cleaner). No stamps are needed, no scrounging for a scrap of unused paper, and no nasty envelope glue to lick; we still, all of us, at least sometimes, communicate in writing.

Why? Why don’t we just talk to one another? Why not pick up the phone or drop by on your way home from work or hang over the backyard fence? For one thing, cell phone plans often make talking more expensive than writing. And there’s not as much time in a day as there used to be. Yes, I know there are still 24 hours every day, but we squeeze in more and more “stuff,” making the days and weeks seem shorter than they actually are. There’s more to do and, seemingly, less time to do it in.

So we write. We write notes to our ourselves and our families, and stick them on the refrigerator, the bathroom mirror and in backpacks and briefcases. We type emails to catch up with the friends who live far away and make plans with the ones who live up the street. Just press send. We don’t even talk to each other on our cell phones anymore – we use those opposable thumbs to “text” them messages, using a type of shorthand no respectable letter writer of the past century could have deciphered, much less answered.

So, yes, we still write. But why? It’s not because it’s easier. Or is it? Many people would confess they hate to write. They say they’re not good at it, they can’t type, they don’t know how to spell, or they don’t have time. And those are just the excuses from the people who are writing. The ones who aren’t writing have the very same excuses, and more.

But writing has been with us since people picked up sharp sticks and decided, “Hmmm, before I skewer dinner with this, I think I’ll leave a message for the Mrs. on the cave room wall” – “Honey, gone for meat, back soon. Love, Harry.” Writing has been with us forever and; love it or loathe it, read it or write it, do it or don’t, writing isn’t going to fade away within our lifetimes.

Writing can be difficult, frustrating, annoying, or cathartic, rewarding, even mesmerizing. Ever gotten a note from a first grader? A love letter from a crush? I bet you still have them tucked away somewhere. Went to college? To summer camp? Into the Peace Corp or the military? Moved away from home at some point? I bet someone wrote to you to tell you what was happening back “home” and that they missed you. And I bet some of you still have those letters, even if (or especially if) you don’t have the people who wrote them anymore. Rereading an old letter lets you to feel the touch of someone who’s no longer there. A conversation can be forgotten; the written word is there forever.

So is that why people still write? Why do people write? I have some theories (113 and counting, to be exact). Maybe you have your own. If the reason you write isn’t here, please add it to the list.

No one can tell you to shut up – write as much as you want for as long as you want (allowing for meals, sleep, and bathroom breaks, of course).

You won’t lose your voice if you feel like yelling – just type all capital letters or bear down harder with your pencil.

It can be cathartic, even if (especially if?) you never share what you write with anyone else (which avoids hurt feelings and awkward family reunions).

You won’t stutter or mispronounce words and look stupid.

You can make sure you’re using exactly the right word because you have time to check your thesaurus and/or your dictionary.

You don’t have to see anyone’s reaction to what you’re saying unless you choose to be in the same room while they’re reading what you wrote (never a good idea, especially if you’re trying to make them laugh).

You can include anything and everything that you ever wanted to say without worrying that your audience will stop paying attention. (While it’s true they might stop paying attention, because they’re reading rather than listening, you’re not going to know.)

You can edit your writing. Sometimes it’s hard to edit your mouth.

We write:

To convey information.

To remember.

To forget.

To reveal.

To conceal.

To connect.

To detach.

To explore possibilities.

To exaggerate.

To minimize.

To control.

To surrender.

To imitate.

To initiate.

To intimidate.

To earn money.

To find the truth.

To find a soul mate.

To find a job.

To find ourselves.

To intensify an experience.

To heal.

To profess love.

To vent anger.

To share sadness.

To convey sympathy.

To produce laughter.

To celebrate happiness.

To entertain yourself.

To entertain others.

To titillate.

To provoke.

To illustrate.

To compare.

To decide.

To request.

To require.

To flirt.

To play games.

To be serious.

To rule.

To accept.

To decline.

To escape boredom.

To look busy.

To relieve anxiety.

To argue a point.

To get good grades.

To explore options.

To get organized.

To impress.

To surprise.

To relax.

To energize.

To ask a question.

To answer a question.

To commemorate an occasion.

To think things through.

To help.

To hinder.

To evade.

To evolve.

To get involved.

To pretend

To support.

To comfort.

To assuage guilt

To proclaim innocence.

To appease.

To direct.

To confuse.

To encourage.

To discourage.

To make plans.

To break plans.

To beg.

To contribute.

To forgive.

To apologize.

To honor.

To express an opinion.

To criticize.

To complain.

To condone.

To condemn.

To advertise.

To demand.

To request.

To praise

To make something new.

To review something old.

To congratulate.

To annoy.

To commit.

To separate.

To show.

To tell.

To create controversy.

To establish authority.

To leave a legacy.

To imagine.

To consider.

To dream.

To plan.

To share.

Writing symbolizes the spectrum of human emotion. Writing shares, saves, memorizes and memorializes life. That’s why we write.

The writers at Writers 4 Rent want to help you write it right.