Why Do We Write?

The great thing about having a blog is that you can choose what to write about.  Today I want to talk about what Charles Bukowksi told us not to talk about: writing.

Ever since I was little I loved to write essays and short stories.  So many people who write blogs are frustrated writers.  Now thanks be to God (West Cork phrase) we have the technology to publish on-line.  We are the William Blake's of the Twenty First century.   No longer do we have to wait for the postman to deliver that rejection slip that says:

"Thanks but no thanks."

Or:

"It's not quite what we are looking for."

Isn't 'quite' a big word?

Yet deep down we hope and pray one day that we will become bona fide published writers.  I like many others have that still voice inside that wants to be a published author.  A couple of years ago I actually got my manuscript accepted, paid an advance and one day after an Elephants pregnancy,  I was published.  My (sadly late) mother was delighted and over the moon.  It was amazing to see my name and book on Amazon and I thought I had made it.

Two years later and I still haven't seen my book reviewed in a national newspaper  or been invited to the local literature festival.  Perhaps you have to be a celebrity, a best selling writer or a big London publisher?

One of my favourite films is Shadowlands.  It's about CS Lewis and it's incredibly moving and one scene always sticks in my mind when one of the characters says:

"We read to know we are not alone."

I would change 'read' to write.

So don't be discouraged when you don't get comments or you can't get published or nobody leaves a comment, or you do get published and your book doesn't sell that well.  Just keep writing and sharing it with us.  

God bless and have a good week.