Why I Write

“Why do I write?” is a question we ask ourselves every time we sit down at our desks, often without a clear answer. The author of this book confesses that he first picked up a pen simply because he loved the act of writing. He couldn't quite tell if what he was scribbling on the blank page was a diary, a novel, or a poem, but he admits that writing those unidentifiable words brought him a sense of peace.
Over time, writing became a necessity — whether it was reports for school projects, theses for degrees, or articles for academic journals. But what about now? At his core, he writes because he wants to, but also because he feels compelled to. Essentially, he writes for himself, though he doesn't mind writing for others.
One day he asked himself, “Why do I write?” This question soon evolved into a broader curiosity: “Why do writers write?” To find answers, he searched his collection of more than 7,000 books for insights on writing. He collected 150 quotes about why writers write and compiled them into this book.
This book doesn't just try to answer why we write-it encourages deeper introspection. Why Do Writers Write reveals the many motivations that drive writers: some write purely for pleasure, others for financial gain, and still others for recognition. The book presents 38 reasons shared by 112 writers, accompanied by 150 aphorisms on the craft of writing.
In many ways, this book functions like a conversation with ChatGPT. It offers 38 perspectives on why people write, along with 150 thought-provoking quotes. None of these are definitive answers, however, because the reasons vary depending on the reader's perspective. Even the same writer may have different motivations at different times. “Why am I writing?” is a question you should ask yourself before you begin. As you turn the pages of this book, you may discover, much like a yogi in meditation, that the question itself becomes a journey to deeper self-knowledge.