Why Are You Writing?

This is a wonderful question, most people might not think this way but it is a wonderful question to be asked, when writers have been writing and doing something for a long while, they tend to find that most people do not like to “critique” their work. They also do not want to hear too much of it. Unfortunately, this can lead to the thing that most writers fear, a lack of enjoyment in writing.

Why are you writing?

If a writer spends some time break down this question, it can be taken in three ways. It can be meant to question one in a negative way, or a positive way or as a means to review another writer, without being seen as vindictive or pushy.

Negative View: This is referring to how the writer receives this question, but often if the question is asked, there is a reason for it. This can be a reference to the grammar used, or the comments received or the fact that the post was not the best. In fact, in asking this question, a writer needs to understand, really understand, that there is a lot more going on once we ask them this question.
To find out if this was asked in a more negative way, look for reasons why they might be correct. Often times, the questioner is correct, but they have asked it in a setting that makes the writer feel “blamed” for poor writing. Make a point of improving.  It can also be that you are looking to “overly promotional” and this can be fixed as well. If it is simply because they have always complained, then you can learn that you writing still needs improvement, but it is them and not you.

Critique: Former editors and writers that are more accomplished are great ones to listen to advice. They can sometimes be to the point, but they always are doing this to be helpful. If you are blessed by an editor who is willing to tell you what you have done wrong, then you will need to improve.

Positive View: Why are you writing? This can come from a new writer someone who want to begin the journey in writing, and this is where you will want to encourage them by telling your story, your writing journey story to them, to help them understand that living a life of writing is not all highs, but not all lows. Encouraging them is a part of being a writer.

The challenge with the positive style of this question is that most writers find that since they are so used to thinking that anyone who asks it is looking for a reason, such as I make money or this is something that I love to do. Know that you must give some concrete reasons and give a positive outlook to the why in “why are your writing?”