Why I Write? I Have No Choice.

For the past year, I've asked numerous people the simple question of "Why do you write?" on the Why I Write Podcast. The answers usually start with a giggle at the enormity of the question, but the answers all have a similar vibe to them. All around some version of having to do it because the urge/voices/need is there.

This certainly fits for me as well. I have to write. It isn't a choice.

The voices in my head scream when I haven't created in a while.

For me, there is a variety of writing I do.

My paper journal gets my most honest and open writing. No matter how much I strive to put my true self out to the world, we all censor ourselves. The darkest of dark winds up in my journal.

Blogging since 2002, my writing has evolved. I now only write when I have something to say or needing to get out of my head. Sometimes I cross-post to other sites and other times I keep it right here.

Amazing Things Will Happen and Content Rules both continue to sell copies and things are in motion to keep that going.

Being a published author changed my life. It opened doors, put me on stages and connected me with a vast variety of people around the globe.

Writing makes my world better. It allows me to collect my thoughts, tell stories and help others.

Earlier this summer we held memorial service for a dear friend and each of us was allowed to choose a stone with various words or phrases painted on them.

My father grabbed one for me. It is a simple white rock with black letters that read "Voice for the Voiceless."

I hold that rock in my hand often and wonder if I'm doing enough of that with my words. Lately, there hasn't been enough of that sort of writing and it is something I'm striving to do more of in the coming months.

Recently over dinner, my daughter challenged me that I wasn't writing enough. She asked, "Whatever happened to your 'fiction Fridays' you were trying?"

I had nothing to say to her because the truth is I haven't been writing as much as I should and want to do.

Next month that will change.

While chatting with Grant Faulkner I realized I have no excuse this year not to take part in National Novel Writing Month. It is something I've always wanted to do but never had a problem finding an excuse to keep me from doing it.

I  jokingly made up a title, but then the characters and story started to roll around in my brain. Like I said, I write to get the voices out of my head and these are screaming to be let loose.

Why do I write? I write because I love it and I respect the power that words hold.

I wish more people embraced and respected that power.