Why do writers write? Why do sculptors chisel stone? Why do fish swim?
I doubt that if you ask any dedicated writer, they’ll tell you they write “for the money!” Most of us realize that writing will most likely not make us rich (unless of course, your name is J.K. Rowling). But it WILL feed the “fire in the belly”—the passion that drives us.
In speaking to other writers and eavesdropping on a number of author posts, I’ve compiled a list of the top 10 reasons writers write, check it out:
Why do writers write?
1. To live. Writing is a source of life—a basic need to express oneself. It is what keeps us up at night.
2. To feel connected. To feel grounded. To feel centred.
3. To inform, educate, and give an audience something to enjoy.
4. To understand and be understood. To learn, and to heal—for the pen is mightier than the sword.
5. To rid the brain of “voices” (we writers do have a certain someone whispering in our ears, a muse perhaps).
6. To leave a legacy and make a mark in the world.
7. To be able to tell everyone they’re a writer (because writer’s are cool)
8. To give birth to a cast of characters and travel to far away places.
9. For the fun of it.
10. To live forever. To achieve immortality through the written words left behind… a bit vampish, yes.
According to Doris Lessing, writing is a delicious compulsion–one that perhaps only fellow writers can truly understand. And so, the sun rises. The grass grows. The stars come out at night. Bats fly. And I write.
Fellow restless writers, why do YOU write?
Beckie
Today marks the kick-off to the fourth “Dear Lucky Agent” Contest on the Guide to Literary Agents blog. This is a recurring online contest with agent judges and super-cool prizes. The agent judge for this round is Regina Brooks, founder of Serendipity Literary in Brooklyn. She is the author of Writing Great Books for Young Adults. 
Andrea
bjas
Sharon
Maria
Restless Writers 
