Someone, somewhere, sometime is going to ask me why I write.  Why would they care?  Because people since time immemorial have been curious about what makes other people, especial creative people, do what they do.

Charles J Deguara (http://authorspromoter.com/why-writers-write/ ) took a stab at this question by asking one-hundred published authors this question and writing down their answers. As one may imagine the answers varied all over the board ranging from a high of fifteen percent for personal expression, to two percent lows for motivations like entertainment, curiosity, circumstances and immortality. Looking at the spread, as well as the specific comments from published authors shared by Mr. Deguara is enlightening, especially for a new author like me.

For me, I’ve written through the years to satisfy my imagination.  That’s right! I’m part of the eight percent who are driven by imagination, and also part of the thirteen percent that are driven by need…the “have to” necessary to satisfy the demands of that imagination.  While I have always lived in reality, I have always found it to be over-rated; demanding, lack-luster and boring.  The worlds that could be visualized in the mind’s eye were, by contrast, vividly colorful, interesting and uncomplicated by the demands of others; also, perhaps a little dangerous.  The alternative reality in my mind’s imagination could be controlled and manipulated as I wished.  An only child with no near neighbors, my imagination created play environments, and created toys from lumber and spare parts to use in them.  As I grew older, books became the major exercise for my imagination.  In college, writing became another creative exercise and Later, my career would exercise my imagination thorough both writing and by providing hundreds of creative problem solving opportunities.  So it was natural, when I retired from my day job…to write.

Everyone has a story and an opinion about their motivation to read or to write. What’s yours?  I’d love to hear it!