Asking why we write is like asking why we do anything. It’s an outlet, art form, time-waster or chance to improve. Everyone has a different reason, and everyone has a different voice. The beauty of writing is that you don’t have to be eloquent or intelligent. Writing tells a story, and there are multiple ways to tell any story.
Writing can be a great stress-reliever. Have you ever tried writing in a journal? Even if it’s just a stream of consciousness about how the food in the dining hall is horrible and you failed a test, those thoughts are still valuable, and it helps to put them on paper. My mind is a pool of thoughts, swimming or drowning, and the only way to organize them sometimes is to write them down on a piece of paper. There is something so satisfying and calming about using your favorite pen and feeling it against the paper. It can make you feel oddly powerful.
Writing can be a learning experience. I hate writing papers on topics I’m not excited about, but unfortunately, school requires us to write prompt after prompt on books we might not even have read. It’s boring, painful and monotonous, but the only way to survive is to try and get engaged with the prompt or come up with a topic that you feel passionate about. If you put time and effort into creating something you feel proud of, as opposed to just finishing, I am willing to bet your grade will reflect that confidence.
Writing is art. Everyone interprets texts differently, just as people interpret paintings or sculptures differently. The beautiful thing about art is that we see or read with our mind’s eye as well as physical eyes, and there is always a new perspective waiting to be considered. A well-written story can even tell more about the author than the characters within the story. Writing is a powerful art that allows us to imagine or capture a moment or period in time. Writing can also transcend time and relate to people of all generations and eras.
Writing can be done just for the sake of writing, but I don’t know the last time I did that. It can also be used to record memories. I made a promise to myself to write in journals so if I ever become famous, people would be able to read my thoughts posthumously. A morbid thought, but I do think that the more you write, the more you improve.
Writing can be rewarding. The reason I write for publications like Odyssey is because I think everyone has something valuable to say, and in an age when every moment needs to be documented, I think that words can capture memories and moments as well as pictures on Instagram. Having your writing published allows you to see progress over time and write for an audience. It forces me to get over that feeling that I don’t want people to read my writing and allows me to fully embrace my perspective and ideas.
It doesn’t matter why we write. It’s how we learn, how we express and how we escape. We need to keep writing, though, because writing allows us to turn our thoughts, dreams, or worries into physical words on a piece of paper. Our words have the power to promote change within others and ourselves. If you’re not writing, then you might have another form of stress-relief or outlet, but unlike other activities, however, art and writing are special creations and a visual image of our personality or thoughts.
