An Impulse

     The urge to write has plagued many a man over time, ever since the beginning of writing. 
No doubt, writing started out as a tool to either keep track of food, family lineage, etc.  But, over
time, writing somehow turned into a means of slef expression.  It didn't have to be used just to record
facts anymore.  It was at this point when writing became an art form.
     Many, many writers have come and gone since this point.  But, why do they do it?  Why
write stories, poetry, novels?  Seemingly useless at first, why do something that takes so much time
and effort?  I'm sure these questions have been posed to many people in the arts, even artists
themselves have probably asked these questions to themselves.  So, what are the answers?
     The answers are as elusive and as numerous as the artists that have ever written.  I can only
guess at some of the answers that could be given.  Easier still, I'll tell you what my answers are.
     First, there is the main reason I write: to make my own reality.  Face it, reality sucks.  It
often times disappoints, sometimes to the point of dispair.  So, rather than dealing with it, I would
rather make up my own reality.  I'd rather play out the possiblities in my mind and put them on
paper.
     Second, writing is one means of self-expression.  We, as human beings, feel a need to
somehow communicate our ideas, thoughts, and feelings about the world to other humans.  Writing
is one of the easiest and most effective ways to do that.  Often times, it can be very direct (essays) or
indirect (poetry), dealing with fact (history records) or fiction (short stories, novels).  It's a great way
to communicate.
     Last, at least for me, it acts as a great anit-depressant.  Strong emotions, specifically
depression and sadness, can become too much to bear sometimes.  We have to do something with the
emotions.  We can keep them bottled up, or we can let them out.  Or, another way which is middle
of the road, is to channel them into some activity.  Writing (and the arts in general) are great ways to
do this.  And, once done, relief is the emotion which is left over, an emotions welcomed with open
arms.
     These reasons are the primary reasons why I write.  I'm sure other writers have many, many
other reasons why they write.  Those reasons are very valid.  But, writing is a tool which can be
abused.  Many times, money, deceit, and the hurting of other peoples' feelings can become the goal
of a writer.  These writers have the wrong idea.  Writing isn't about that.  It's not about being cute
either.  Writing is done by people for people.  And it's done, most of all, for the writer.