Why Do You Write?

Filed under Improve your book, Writing tips.

It is lazy blogging to suggest that there are two types of anything (though it has never stopped me before), but I do believe that writers can be roughly split into two groups.

Writers Who Write

The first group is writers who simply must write. These are writers to whom writing is second nature, it is like breathing. These writers will write no matter what. The simple act of placing words on a page, conjuring up worlds and passing ideas, is like a drug and they need their fix every day.

Writers Who Deliver

The second group is writers who write for a goal. These writers write because they are looking to produce an end product. For this group the final book, manuscript or essay is the payoff, not the actual process of writing. This group can goes days without writing, but will write every minute possible if the deadline for a project demands.

I fall into the second group – what about you?

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  • Amy

    I never thought of that before. I am in the second group, definitely. Deadlines, even self-imposed ones, keep me writing.

    • garysmailes

      I think a lot of writers use internal deadlines to help them write.

  • http://passwordincorrect.com Piotr Kowalczyk

    I’m in a third group: Writers Who Believe.
    I believe that my writing is meaningful, I believe that I can improve with every new sentence written, I believe that more and more readers will appreciate what I write.
    I don’t write because there is inner me telling me to do it. I don’t write because there is “outer him” (a publisher?) telling me to finish it. I write because I believe there is somebody who might enjoy my writing and doesn’t even know me yet – a reader.

    • garysmailes

      My argument is that some writers write because they simply have no choice, it is a personal expression. However, others write because they want to produce books (or an end product).

      • http://passwordincorrect.com Piotr Kowalczyk

        I’m a first group then.

  • http://twitter.com/astridparamita Astrid Paramita

    I sometimes wished I’m the first one, but I think I’m way closer to the second one. I want to produce an end product. A book.

    • garysmailes

      I am the same as you. I see writing as a job and often find more pleasure in the ideas and promotion, than the actual writing. I don’t think this makes us bad people!

  • http://www.rowmark.co.uk Pauline Rowson

    I write because I love writing, have always written, including my first novel aged 11. I also wrote for a professional living and to build a business where deadlines and client expectations had to be met. Now I write crime fiction and consider myself a professional writer where deadlines still have to be met, but if asked, as I often am, if you weren’t published would you still write? The answer is ‘Yes’ because I love the creative process and I love putting words on to the page,seeing them take shape and convey meaning.

    • garysmailes

      Would you say that what gives you the ability to write for a living is that, in essence you live in group one, but professionally have managed to progress to also have the traits of a group two writer?

  • Cjglover63

    I fall into both groups depending upon where I am in the project. If I miss too many days, I go through a withdrawal. But I am a goal driven person so seeing the words, THE END, on the final page is very satisfying.

    • garysmailes

      I suspect that most writers who have actually completed a book will fall into both groups.

  • http://tuesdaycuriosity.com JW Bettencourt

    I have trouble placing myself here. As, on the one hand, I love to emerse myself in the ideas and the characters and world, etc. And when I get an idea the pencil doesn’t like to stop.
    Or at least the brain and the mouth. (I monologue to a recorder a lot)
    But..
    I won’t write every day
    I won’t even write every time I have an idea, depending on where I am when I have them.
    It’s all quite unproductive.
    Under deadlines imposed by others, I’ll mash things out and power-write.
    But I’m terrible at self-imposing anything.

    • garysmailes

      I think you fall smack bang into group two – I write in the same manner.

  • Amy

    I never thought of that before. I am in the second group, definitely. Deadlines, even self-imposed ones, keep me writing.

  • http://passwordincorrect.com Piotr Kowalczyk

    I'm in a third group: Writers Who Believe.
    I believe that my writing is meaningful, I believe that I can improve with every new sentence written, I believe that more and more readers will appreciate what I write.
    I don't write because there is inner me telling me to do it. I don't write because there is “outer him” (a publisher?) telling me to finish it. I write because I believe there is somebody who might enjoy my writing and doesn't even know me yet – a reader.

  • garysmailes

    I think a lot of writers use internal deadlines to help them write.

  • garysmailes

    My argument is that some writers write because they simply have no choice, it is a personal expression. However, others write because they want to produce books (or an end product).

  • http://passwordincorrect.com Piotr Kowalczyk

    I'm a first group then.

  • http://twitter.com/astridparamita Astrid Paramita

    I sometimes wished I'm the first one, but I think I'm way closer to the second one. I want to produce an end product. A book.

  • garysmailes

    I am the same as you. I see writing as a job and often find more pleasure in the ideas and promotion, than the actual writing. I don't think this makes us bad people!

  • http://www.rowmark.co.uk Pauline Rowson

    I write because I love writing, have always written, including my first novel aged 11. I also wrote for a professional living and to build a business where deadlines and client expectations had to be met. Now I write crime fiction and consider myself a professional writer where deadlines still have to be met, but if asked, as I often am, if you weren't published would you still write? The answer is 'Yes' because I love the creative process and I love putting words on to the page,seeing them take shape and convey meaning.

  • garysmailes

    Would you say that what gives you the ability to write for a living is that, in essence you live in group one, but professionally have managed to progress to also have the traits of a group two writer?

  • Cjglover63

    I fall into both groups depending upon where I am in the project. If I miss too many days, I go through a withdrawal. But I am a goal driven person so seeing the words, THE END, on the final page is very satisfying.

  • garysmailes

    I suspect that most writers who have actually completed a book will fall into both groups.

  • http://tuesdaycuriosity.com JW Bettencourt

    I have trouble placing myself here. As, on the one hand, I love to emerse myself in the ideas and the characters and world, etc. And when I get an idea the pencil doesn't like to stop.
    Or at least the brain and the mouth. (I monologue to a recorder a lot)
    But..
    I won't write every day
    I won't even write every time I have an idea, depending on where I am when I have them.
    It's all quite unproductive.
    Under deadlines imposed by others, I'll mash things out and power-write.
    But I'm terrible at self-imposing anything.

  • garysmailes

    I think you fall smack bang into group two – I write in the same manner.

  • http://www.mindforbusiness.com Jennifer

    I’m someone who writes so compulsively, I used to think there was something wrong with me. I think it’s a form of continuous therapy, a way in which I manage myself…. I’m continually trying to channel all this energy into being more like a second-group type of person though – strikes me as more productive with a better potential payoff? I wonder?…

  • http://www.mindforbusiness.com Jennifer

    I'm someone who writes so compulsively, I used to think there was something wrong with me. I think it's a form of continuous therapy, a way in which I manage myself…. I'm continually trying to channel all this energy into being more like a second-group type of person though – strikes me as more productive with a better potential payoff? I wonder?…

  • http://WriteWithPersonality.com Andreajwenger

    I would characterize the two kinds of writers as those who write for self-expression and those who write to communicate. I think there’s probably a third: those who write to make money. Those who write for self-expression will only become publishable if they look outward and craft their passion and angst into something people would want to read; those who write to make money will only become publishable as creative writers if they learn to look inward and infuse their writing with their passion and angst. Those who write to communicate naturally look inward and outward to tell compelling, heartfelt stories.

  • http://WriteWithPersonality.com Andreajwenger

    I would characterize the two kinds of writers as those who write for self-expression and those who write to communicate. I think there's probably a third: those who write to make money. Those who write for self-expression will only become publishable if they look outward and craft their passion and angst into something people would want to read; those who write to make money will only become publishable as creative writers if they learn to look inward and infuse their writing with their passion and angst. Those who write to communicate naturally look inward and outward to tell compelling, heartfelt stories.

  • http://twitter.com/ugotatweet Andrea Gray

    Second group here, too. Although I must say some days I fit well into the first group.

  • Cyndi Pauwels

    Why do I write? A question I’ve been asked many times, and still ask myself often (http://cpatlarge.blogspot.com/p/why-i-write.html). On those days when I fret over low word count, another rejection, or lack of critique response, I definitely fall into group two.

    But on the good days, the days I live for, I’m in the first group.