Before I begin, I'd like to say that technology blows me away. I'm writing this several days before it will be posted, and thanks to the "schedule" feature, I can set it to automatically post without my engagement. Such 21st century.
Alright, here's something to which I've given quite a bit of thought: why write? After all, as a medium, isn't the written word dying? Many more people listen to music and watch movies or tv shows than read books, correct? Yes? Maybe not?
Lots of people debate this assertion, and according to Brandon Sanderson (my writing god), there are actually more people reading now than there ever have been before. I question this, especially since his views might be slanted due to the survivorship bias* of being a bestselling author. I'll post his article so that you can decide for yourself, but first I'll make you wade through my own inferior slew of words. Or, you could skip to the end. Darn you, divergent system-breakers!
Let's not confuse the question of "why write?" with "why read?" In my opinion, that's much easier to answer. Any activity, reading included, shapes the pathways in your brain. Reading basically trains people to think and analyze in ways that other actions cannot. Also, because reading puts you inside the minds of characters with potentially differing views and experiences from your own, it makes you more able (and willing) to see others' points of view, and also to feel empathy for others' situations. The reasons pretty much continue from there.
So, I ask again: why write? I've gotten into debates about this subject, mostly with myself. It seems that, for those intent on sharing stories, film is a better option. It gains wider exposure. So does music, and I am often awed by the ability of certain musicians to powerfully and succinctly tell stories in their songs. An argument could be made that written-word is more capable of communicating emotion, but I'm not sure I agree. Perhaps not more capable, just capable in a different way.
It's been suggested to me that the reason for writing is that I enjoy it. This is very true, and I'd like to think that I'll continue writing "just because" even if I never get a book published, which stands a good chance of being the case. Writing keeps me sane. But, regardless of what authors say about not being able to not write, I believe firmly that it's an overly emotional argument. At least personally, a life without writing would be difficult . . . but not impossible. Sometimes, you just have to face it: art forms like writing and music are not something humans need to survive. Thrive, perhaps. But not survive.
At the end of the day, here's what I've decided. It's not a concrete conclusion, and my views might change. For now, however, it's the product of years of musing.
Writing may not be the only way to impact people through stories, and it may not be the most effective. But, it's something I can do. I don't think I'd be very good at the technical aspects of medium such as film, even if I received proper education. And I know from experience that I have very little musical talent. Plus, I'm a lousy puppeteer. Writing, however . . . it very much remains to be seen whether I can make my living as a writer. But writing is something I consider myself reasonably adept at, and, even if it isn't to the professional level, I know that people have been impacted by pieces I've written. I know that I have been impacted by things that I and others have written, and I know that writing is something I can do. It's a more personal art form: one writer, speaking to one reader. As is hinted at in the Brandon Sanderson article I mentioned, writing only takes one main person, plus a dedicated editor. Publishing takes more, but publishing is not writing.
I know I said that the point of this article wasn't to defend reading, but the reason for writing is also a reason for reading. Because it's personal, and because more people have the option of writing than, say, directing, you get a broader variety of writers than you do directors, who're a pretty elite group, by my understanding at least. So, some people might consider reading worth it just for the chance to experience the opinions of people who otherwise would not have a voice.
Perhaps I'm not a very good writer, after all, because that's a very succinct way to sum up all these words:
Writing gives me a voice.
It's a voice I would not otherwise have, and a voice that I have the option of using for others' benefit. Plus, writing is fun for me, and I believe it makes a difference. But, ultimately, it's the voice that makes writing unique as a medium, I believe.
Here's a link to that Sanderson article I mentioned: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/brandon-sanderson-on-why-we-still-read-books-in-the-internet-era/
Enjoy Sanderson's voice!
*Survivorship bias: the assumption that people who appear at the top of any particular field must know more about getting to the top than anyone else. Not necessarily true.
