The writer and the reader

What is it that compells humans to write?

It's an interesting thing to consider - especially in this age of instant, image-based gratification. I think it may boil down to the feeling of having something to say: some viewpoint (real or imagined) that must be transferred from the brain onto the page. I'm not even sure that this feeling comes hand in hand with the desire to share the writing with others. This can be a daunting prospect. After all, there are literally countless words available to us at the swipe of a finger or click of a mouse. We might ask: 'How on Earth could what I have to say compete in the midst of this word-saturated world?' This question is irrelevant in my opinion. If we happen to feel brave enough to place our words on a public platform, and others happen to read it -perhaps even respond to it- then great. However, this does not have to be the goal of writing. The goal of writing can begin and end with the simple act of someone wishing to capture a part of their own mind, and the satisfaction that comes with selecting the best combination of words so that it becomes something more.

Whether we choose to share our words or not, I believe that it is always worth considering a reader, even if that reader will only ever be ourselves. This allows us to toe the fine line between creativity and narcissism. Writing could easily become a somewhat self-indulgent activity unless we do so with a reader in mind. Self-indulgence is not necessarily a bad thing of course, but an imaginary reader will force us to remain succinct and keep our writing interesting (in theory anyway!). This internal reader also asks questions of the writer, to ensure that the work makes sense and that it does not fly off on a tangent - always a risk, especially if writing for ourselves.

So now the reader asks 'What will you, Steffie, be writing about?'

I think I'll leave that to be discovered. The last few paragraphs have been my opening salvo...intentions set. I hope you'll stay with me for what's to come.