From Tracie: Why Do You Write

Friday, August 10, 2012

Why Do You Write

My mind immediately flashes to images of Anne Shirley and Jo March when I think of a writer. I loved them when I was a child (I still love them), and I remember cheering when they saw pieces published, and crying when their work wasn’t loved or appreciated. It was my first taste of the joy and agony of writing, lived through their words, long before I ever imagined I would try to write anything more creative or personal than a term paper.

I didn’t understand the agonizing beauty of taking pieces of your heart, and putting them out there for the world to read. I didn’t imagine what it could mean to a person like me, who lives so much of life inside my own head, to reach out through words on a screen and build connections. It has changed my life.

I traveled a long path with words before I was able to finally use the word writer to describe myself.

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I am honored to guest post at Erin Margolin's blog,
The Road To My Writer Roots.



14 comments:

  1. This makes me want to read Anne of Green Gables again.

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    1. It is SUCH a good series!

      Katarina and I are planning on reading the entire Anne series this year for school (some of that will actually be rereading) - and I have to admit, I'm just as excited about it as she is!

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  2. i write to exorcise my demons, although I hadn't thought about or realized this until you asked. thank you for helping make me more self-aware.

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    1. I love that I helped you. That is a great reason to write!

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  3. Oh Jo, I love her so!
    I write for a lot of reasons, but most of all to connect.

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    1. The connections (especially through blogging) are amazing.

      Jo. She was so important to my growing up. I read Little Woman over and over again.

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  4. Anne and Jo--my two favorite authors as well and two that I grew up loving as well :) :D Oh and my sister just got to go visit Prince Edward Island and I'm dying of jealousy :)

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    1. I'm totally jealous of her too! PEI is a trip I have always wanted to make. One day.....

      I love that Montgomery and Alcott wrote about writers. There is something beautiful about seeing the process through the lives of their characters.

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  5. Tracie,
    You write with clear eloquence. I began writing when I was about 12. As a teen, I sent away for lessons through the mail (paid for with berry-picking money). I had many problems as a teenager and had difficulty communicating, but I was able to turn to writing to help. Later I would get a master's degree with an emphasis in publishing. My memoir is due out in 8 weeks. Personal writing started for me as a way to reach out, to heal, to grow--but I hope it has grown to becoming a way to help others. I aspire to reach your level of writing--you do a wonderful job with this blog.

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    1. Thank you so much. This comment really blessed me today.

      I love that writing was able to help you, and in turn be used to help others. That is beautiful. Congratulations on your memoir. That is a huge accomplishment!

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  6. That is such a hard question to answer, Tracie. I suppose my reasons for writing depend on WHAT I'm writing. For instance, the reason I write my blog is different than the reason I write fiction. I am going to have to give this a lot of thought!

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  7. Tough question, great answer!

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