All The Reasons I *Can* Write
As promised, to follow up on that little gem of self-doubt I posted Wednesday about All the Reasons I Can’t Write, today’s post is dedicated to the opposite: all the reasons I can and should write.
I wasn’t in a bad mindset when I wrote the Can’t post. In fact, I was in a very good, very creative and receptive mindset, which is all the difference. When you bemoan your writing skills and abilities from a negative point of view, you’re only going to make them seem all the more real to you, and what your mind perceives as real it assumes as real–even when it isn’t. So why torture yourself when you’re feeling bad by telling yourself more reasons you need to feel bad about your writing?
It was enlightening, almost entertaining, to see all the excuses I gave for not writing memoir and essay. Some of those reasons were so ridiculous that I practically smiled as I typed them (I wrote the actual list back in August and just unearthed it). I want to dive into a little bit deeper analysis of those negative ideas at some point–but in the meantime, here’s my counterargument for all the reasons I can write.
All The Reasons I Can (And Should Be) Writing
- I see patterns in language most people do not.
- Every life event happens for a reason.
- People like my writing.
- I need to discipline myself to be more creative.
- Lemons.
- There are so many markets out there for my work.
- I am funny. My life is nowhere near normal.
- I think up great beginnings.
- I always feel an urge to tell a story about events.
- I want to honor those people in my life who make the most difference with stories.
- I am very good at writing shorter pieces.
- Not only am I a teacher, my life is a teacher.
- I have so many memories it would be a shame not to share them.
- Friends often ask when my next piece is coming out.
- I won the first memoir contest I entered so I must be good at it.
Your turn. Why are you still writing? What keeps you going on the piece you’re working on when all other voices tell you to stop? What are your writing truths?
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It's pretty simple, really. I'm a writer who loves writing about writing, and sharing all the tricks of the trade with other writers. And when I'm not writing, I'm thinking about writing. I have a hunch you know what I mean :)