As I cruised around the various blogs tonight, I noticed a trend and then ran into a question at Nigel’s blog I could not pass.
It is just a fad.
Many of the posts I read tonight were from bloggers who were exhausted by real life and who took a popular shortcut to posting when they were too tired to post: Leftovers. Whether they offered an older post in repress or gathered together tidbits to string together instead of building a post from scratch, the trend says, “You are still OK.”
I am talking to you.
A few of the blogs I ran across were taking matters directly to heart. Some very close to me joined me in engaging my weekend topic of voting and penal systems. Hoozah! My readers are scrolling away with something from my blog! And much gratitude to those who take those nuggets and make them shine.
It is all about you.
What? Yes, I said it. This time, it really is all about you. Remember me telling you about Nigel’s question? He wanted to know why we write. Nigel, this post is for you.
Pain
A common topic for writers in general. We churn out sad poetry; heartfelt, gut-wrenching personal tragedy; and mysterious imaginings we like to call fiction. The reason is not to make you sad, but to show our human side, our own frailty, our stark reality which does not disappear into the frilly words.
Ire
Image via Wikipedia
Ah, the rant. Writers are letting it out so they do not explode. More popular than George Carlin would have ever imagined, the rant is how we reach through our writing to grab you by the shoulders and shake you. We are saying, Do you understand the words coming out of my fingers?
Imagination
Fiction. Like grand actors upon a stage, we transport you to places you may never see, take you to times you cannot live, wrap you in rich surroundings, introduce you to colorful characters, involve you in the twists and turns. We want you to let go of reality and give yourself the freedom to roam.
Shame
The apology. Writers, like all other humans, are imperfect. Even with our excellent grammar, keen vocabularies and perfect punctuation, we make mistakes. Some are the little ones (the bizarrely skipped word) and some are monumental tribulations from our lives. By writing, we ask your forgiveness as the representative of the human race.
Humor
Laughter is the best medicine. Some days, we want you to laugh at us. Others, we want you to laugh with us. But we need you to laugh. You need the endorphin rush of a fit of the giggles or a belly-jiggling guffaw which brings tears to your eyes before you reach out and share it with the people in your world you want to smile.
Help
The how to. We learned (or just keep practicing) a task you are likely to attempt. We are compelled to tell you either there is an easier way than the instructions suggest or the journey will be tougher than you imagine. We try to guide you away from the agony of defeat and the inevitable reading of the instructions.
Caring
The how (not) to. The voice of experience rings through what we write. It is our own special version of Don’t touch the stove. We do not want you to lament our pain, but, instead, we want to spare you the Furacin and debriding.
Joy
The victory. Come with us on a magic journey which we want to leave a smile on your face. If we do it well, yours will reach from ear to ear, just like ours.
Shock
The jolt. We want to shock and amaze you. With tall tales, frightening statistics, ingenious plot twists or unadulterated truth, we want your jaw slack, your hands immobile and your mind still to absorb our words aimed specifically at you.
News
The report. We are information seekers and gatherers, verbal scavengers. We ferret out information and bring it to you.
Love
1. The poem. For a writer, the most commonly used vehicle for love is poetry. The accomplished poet warms your heart in perfect meter and well-hidden rhyme. The amateur will offer a greeting card insert which still makes you want to run to your mate and hug.
2. The love story. Regardless of the setting, you are in a love affair with characters designed to speak to your soul. If written well enough, you fall in love in the story or are inspired to love in life.
3. The declaration. Part love story, part poem, part rant. The complicated recipe writers employ to reach you declaring their love.
Sex
Erotica. We write about the things we do, we see, we dream, we fantasize, we desire, we imagine. And we want you to join us in the reverie and reward.
Because We Can
Most of all, we write because we can. In some of us, it is a compulsion, an unending need to write. Some, it is passion, a love of words. Others, a job, it requires us to share. But for those whose words you love to read, it is truly all about you.
~~~~~~~~~~
Why do you write?
Hashtags: #amwriting #whyIwrite
Thank you for sharing The M3 Blog with hashtags.
Alexandra Heep
/ December 12, 2011Oh dear, I know which one I am from the above haha. Why do I write? The short answer right now is because I have to.
annmariedwyer
/ December 12, 2011Well, that is more than one, Alex! Is it the “job” version or the “compulsion” version? Red.
jimlparsons
/ December 12, 2011Red, your writings are all of the above. Truly great and inspiring. Mostly eye opening and very heartfelt. AWSOME, RED AWSOME!
Alexandra Heep
/ December 12, 2011The job version. But, the compulsion version to be me tries to overrule at times when I have to write to guidelines I find stifling.
annmariedwyer
/ December 12, 2011I completely get that. I do not think I could stand having to write drivel in a format akin to third grade again. *sigh* {HUGZ}
Raymond Alexander Kukkee
/ December 12, 2011Red, I live to write, I love writing, I like all genres of writing, fiction is my favourite, but when I do write serious stuff on Incoming Bytes it is with the intention to encourage change–my attempt to change things with which society should be outraged, but accept, like totally inappropriate sentences for criminals, decimating Blue-fin tuna and building MORE nuclear plants in spite of the far-too-obvious danger.
I whacked away at one of these questionable in-between posts last week already starting out with nothing, everything, and editing it until it almost had direction.
I shelved it, temporarily, fabricating instead “Sometimes Life Becomes a Legend of Glory” , a kind of hybrid legend concept with a devious purpose, to drop a hint of the coming (sooner or later, remember Procrastinators RUS) “Martin the Snow Dragon” another potential eBook.
Your article here reminded me that ‘ the” post which totally lacked direction remains sitting on the shelf, annoying the muse and again it poking needles in my heart about writing for quantum change–so timing is everything. Must it come yet again?
I don’t know if a “catch-all, leftovers” type post is a fad as much as a necessity. Perhaps writing like that is a subconscious method of effecting change -and a brilliant method of creating direction within the scrabbled mind ? Thanks for reminding me, two points for you, Red!
annmariedwyer
/ December 12, 2011I think the mish-mash is a good thing. Some of my better (what a qualified statement that is) posts have begun as the wandering, stream-of-consciousness (read: train wreck), random compilation of the tempest in my brain. I grasp one point and a post is born.
All the rest falls into the morass of idea, not yet mature enough to grace the page, but not bin fodder, either.
Thanks for the points, Ray.
Red.
Peter L. Wright
/ December 12, 2011Your blogs are thought provoking and entertaining. ♥
annmariedwyer
/ December 12, 2011Why, thank you, Peter. So good to see you this brilliant morning! Red.
Antigone's Clamor
/ December 12, 2011I write because I must. It’s the only way I can think properly. I like conveying my thoughts on paper to both myself and others. I have to write every day, even if it’s just a snippet. Writing is what God gave me that helps me to relax, to process, to feel, to communicate…I stopped once, because I was hurting, and when I did, I paid for it. It’s like stopping the flow of a river that shouldn’t be dammed.
annmariedwyer
/ December 12, 2011I had that problem last night. I was desperate to write, but was far to tired to be cogent. Instead, I did some transcription, hoping it would mollify the writer within…nothing doing. 0330 and here I was scribbling on the back of a paper one of the children stuck in the book beside my bed. *sigh* It is a curse. Red.
awarewriter
/ December 12, 2011Hmmm. Why do I write? I write because I am a creative being and writing is one of the ways I exercise that creativity. I’ve finally realized that it’s about time I recorded more of my writing with a physical medium. Huh?
One day when I was sitting and watching the ideas flow through my mind I realized that I’ve been writing all my life but not recording. Words are imprecise, in fact our right brain can’t deal in words and our left brain (the smart ass) loves to make fun of our musings. More and more I’m learning to ignore the critic and let the words flow, mistakes and all (and record those words).
I’m a visual person. I love making images with the help of my cameras. Writing is serial while a photograph is a gestalt that grabs you as a whole. A good photograph and a good piece of writing hit you square in the emotions where it matters most.
My intuition aka my dragon knows when a thing is ‘right’ because that thing feels ‘right.’ Descartes said: “I think, therefore I am.” McD says “I create, therefore I am.”
Life is a delicious, creative journey. Creativity illuminates the road, the mind and the emotions. Writing lights my fire.
John
Angela Young
/ December 12, 2011Writing is how I express myself. I am not glib of tongue, but when I talk on paper, it all comes out. It’s therapy. It’s a way of touching and being touched. It is a chore and a joy. I can’t imagine not doing it!
Red
/ December 16, 2011And you write so well. Who cares if you orate? When you write it down, it is far harder to be misquoted 😉
takingcandyfromababy
/ December 13, 2011Perhaps because I’m the only one who will listen….
annmariedwyer
/ December 13, 2011And if you write it down, your shrink will not consider that talking to yourself…Good to see you! Red.
nigelld
/ December 13, 2011I feel inspired by being considered inspirational. 😉
Nigel
annmariedwyer
/ December 13, 2011And thank you, Nigel! So very glad you made it! Red.