What I Love About Writing: A Mini-Series
A Short Reminder to Myself
Despite the struggles a writer has with their writing, it is important to remind ourselves why we do it in the first place.
When I taught creative writing to high school and college students, there was a twist to a question I would normally hear from other classes: why do we tell stories? I would often argue that this is the wrong question for a creative writing class. It assumes there is a universal reason for telling stories. And while we do, as a species, tell stories, those who wish to tell them professionally — such as students in a creative writing class — will have a different reason for why they want to pursue the craft and career.
Thus, the question I ask is: Why do you want to tell stories? What makes your desire for storytelling, so much so that you wish to pursue it professionally, unique? These are the questions I wanted my students to answer.
It’s the same with me. I like to tell stories because it’s my favorite form of expression. But as to why I want to pursue it professionally, it’s because I can’t imagine myself doing anything else with my life. I’m a writer by heart, no matter the genre. And I want my writing to see the world.
That said, I have trouble remembering that sometimes, and my writing can suffer as a result. I have to constantly remind myself why I write what I write and do what I do.
Thus, the point of this little mini-series of mine. I will be writing a few short essays about what I love about writing. Each essay will be dedicated to a different genre, such as poetry, fiction, playwriting, and screenwriting. The essays are to remind me to be in love with the craft of writing. But if they help others find the love for their words, too, all the better.
Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoy what I write.