The Game of Writing
This Writing Thing
This thing we do, writing, what is with that? Do you understand it? I do not. Not the compulsion to write down every thought, not the running commentary in my head, not the characters I have neglected over the years who refuse to go away, not the jealousy I feel when I read something I wish I had written.
What drives us to write when recognition and rewards are few? You might call it The Writing Thing.
Another common question is, “What is a writer?” That one is followed closely by, “Am I one?” Some people are fluid at turning out pages; some people struggle to tap the well. We all, though, engage in this writing thing by showing up at the page.
Many years ago I was at a writer’s conference. John Updike began his keynote speech, “How many here want to be writers?” We all raised our hands. “You’ve all failed,” he said. “The real writers are home writing.”
He was funny, but he was wrong. Writers needs writers. The first thing about this writing thing is that the game comes with doubts and uncertainties. Most of us have no one but each other to say to us, “Yes, you are a writer.”
Let us do that for each other. I do not mean chat away in your daily check-ins; I mean hold it in your hearts that we are in this writing thing together and we are all deserving of the title writer.
Welcome to This Writing Thing. I look forward to the adventures ahead.
