Why I Love to Write

What is it about writing that I so enjoy?

I have known I have talent as a writer since middle school, when a teacher invited me to join the school newspaper. I later worked as a public affairs and communications specialist for a large humane society and for a well-known federal agency. I'm not creative enough to be a fiction writer, but I do like to write about things I know, things I feel, and things I have experienced. 

• I love the emotional release (venting) I get from writing about things that upset me (such as the current state of politics in the United States). 
• I write to express my opinion about something, or to educate people about the ongoing slaughter of elephants and wolves. 
• I also enjoy the craftsmanship of writing. I like to revisit a sentence or paragraph or an entire piece of work and search until I find just the right word, or rearrange paragraphs until they make more sense. 
• As an introvert, writing allows me to express myself while remaining mostly anonymous and avoiding the uncomfortable feeling of interacting with a lot of people I don't know. 
• I get a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment when I finish writing something. And if I'm not happy with it, I can always let it sit for a while and then revisit it with fresh eyes. 
• Writing can help me articulate and organize my thoughts. 
• Writing can help me process grief. 
• Sometimes I write just to release emotions, never intending to publish or share what I wrote. 
• Writing allows me to share with others some of my wonderful travel experiences.
• Writing helps me challenge myself to improve my skill as a writer. After all, the best way to become a better writer is to ... write!
• My reward for writing comes from inside me. I don't get paid to write. I have had a few articles published in a local newspaper and in the newsletters of a few non-profit organizations. I have won awards from the Dog Writers Association of America. But my biggest reward comes from knowing that I have produced a well-written article or blog post.
• Writing produces, for me, the joy of creating something.  The subject matter may not be -- and often isn't -- unique. But my perspective, my story, is uniquely mine.
• Writing lets me indulge my creative side, just as photography does. I enjoy photography more, but for me, the two creative processes go hand in hand.
• Sometimes, I just feel a need to write something.
• I am a writer. I don't get paid for my work, and not a lot of people read what I write. But I am a writer. I startled myself a few years ago when somebody asked me what I do, and I replied "I am a writer." I am a writer because I write, and because I consider myself a writer.

So this is why I write. If you enjoy reading my blog, please let me know what you like, and don't like, about it. And I would love to have you sign up as a follower. You won't be bombarded with e-mails, but you will be notified whenever a new blog post is available. Your e-mail address won't be shared or sold to anybody.

Thanks for reading!