Why I write · 6:11am Dec 6th, 2016
I write because it helps me think things through. I can walk around for days or years, accumulating a big tangle of half-formed thoughts, but it's not until I sit down and try to channel them into a story that they start to cohere.
Also cute Derpy and Doctor because reasons
Sometimes I write stuff that falls flat. E.g., I wrote Conscience well over a year ago, and it wasn't terrible, but it was kind of a creative failure; I tried very hard to channel some thoughts and experiences into it that never seemed to line-up with the feedback that it got. That isn't "woe is me," but rather an admission that there's still something to the concept of that story that lingers unresolved for me. And sort of by definition, I haven't been able to figure out what it is yet.
But while I wait to figure that out, it seems I've reached 150 followers this evening (cue the mass exodus!), and I wanted to say thank you to all of you for that! I know it's just a number, but I appreciate the support it represents. I've tried to produce high-quality E- and T-rated stories over the last more-than-year-and-a-half, but I've been all over the board in terms of the characters and situations I've put into those stories, and you guys have rolled with it much more than not.
2016 has been weirder for me than 2015 was. My con experiences gave me a chance to get out and meet some folks, even as the arrival of Baby Wubs pinched my writing (and especially editing) time on a day-to-day basis. Work has been actively trying to turn my brain to goo all year as well, which has led to several unplanned stints of kinda-absence from the site (and not much writing, either). Last month was a bit of an anomaly, in that I took some deliberate and sizable writing time, and pushed pretty much everything else aside; but I'm paying for it now, in terms of housework and Christmas prep that got deferred, as well as some involvement that I wish I'd had around here.
I probably take this way too seriously sometimes. I mean, it's just My freakin' Little Pony fanfiction. Except that, as I said, the writing helps me think. And I can understand if others might feel similarly. This is a great community to be a part of, and I know that many of you have a story to tell, too.
So, how about you guys? Why do you write?
Because I love it.
What the guy above me said.
Why do I write? Because I (think I) can. Because I usually enjoy it. Because it's helped me deal with some heavy things IRL. Because if I didn't write, I don't know what I'd do.
Well, I often don't write, for I am lazy, but you get the idea.
Before I posted my first story (almost two years ago wow), I hadn't made anything for public consumption since I stopped drawing comics nine years earlier. So it was nice to get feedback from people who sincerely enjoy the stuff I put out. Kinda makes me feel my 5+yrs in this fandom were worth the emotional (and slight financial) investment.
Because I keep having ideas and it would be a waste to forget them when so many others seem to enjoy them. Alos, I really enjoy thinking too much about silly things.
If I don't write and get the ideas out, then they clog my brain. Which is why I'm all over the place right now. I need to clean house and write, finish some stories.
I guess why I started writing things initially was to stave off depression and to prevent myself from doing other more regrettable things that at the time occurred to me more frequently than I'd care to admit. At the time I, like a lot of people, thought I was sooooo good. That I had these brilliant insights and what not but it was mostly puerile preteen to teenage bull.
I kind of continued on thinking I could maybe one day make money doing it. There was some joy in creation but, it came and went. After awhile it wasn't about the love of writing or story telling but it was about being recognized for something. That eventually became a hollow reason and I stopped for a long time. I did the college thing, always did the job thing.
I tried to get on with script writing and hook onto others with it. Comics came into play eventually, however artists only really pay attention to you if you flash cash at them even if they sign on and swear up and down they want to do it. I don't have cash the cash and considering some of it was family I sort of just stopped doing that. Tried movie and tv scripts and the same sense came into play.
I went back to short stories. Did the whole enter a contest thing but, everything I sent in ultimately lost (along with the entrance fees). Still, I'd periodically tinker with stuff, nothing wild. Eventually I saw a "do you think you can do it better" post on EQD.
I'd read Cupcakes. I'd laughed my butt off at it and gave it a whirl. First part of the story is still posted here and it ultimately went in another direction.
None of that answers the question though does it? I write because it's what I do. I'm convinced of it and to borrow a line from an old Scottish-Irish prayer, "Lord grant that I may always be right, for Thou knowest I am hard to turn."
I haven't turned yet.