Why do I write? Why am I here?
unpacking my priorities
I’ve been thinking off and on about these questions ever since I read the following post by
.
After reading it, I was pretty clear that building a following was exactly what I was focusing on. On the surface, it’s not such a terrible goal, to build a following. If I want to at some point make money with my writing, I will need some sort of following. However, what Helen points out is that we need to keep the focus on our core work. She says:
Our creative energy is limited and wildly overestimated. What’s more important? Our writing project? Our crocheting project? Our photography? Our sketching? Or, creating posts for social media?
It feels really good to have my work seen and hear what it means to people. I love that feeling. It also ties in with my desire to help others feel less alone. What's most important to me, however, is the work itself. It's developing my voice and getting it out on the page. It's finding the place my writing wants to go and developing my skills as a writer. If I spend all of my time writing for other people, when will I write for myself?
Another thing I struggle with often is feeling like I don’t quite know what my primary writing wants to be. Is poetry my main thing? Personal essays? Or perhaps it's short fairy-tale like stories? Maybe it's channeled writing? How am I ever going to know if I don't spend time exploring each of these and focusing on the words that want to be expressed? If I'm spending all of my time trying to write to an audience, I will never find my zone.
Perhaps I sound like a broken record. I’ve explored related things in this piece and this one. I suppose it’s an ongoing journey I’m on with my writing.
So if I were to try to answer those questions, I might say…
I write because there are words within me that long to be expressed. I write because it's the only way I've found to adequately express what goes on inside me. When I try to express it verbally, it often fails. It's only the land of metaphor that manages to come close.
I am on Substack because I like following my favorite newsletters in one place. I'm also here because I want to connect with others who share similar interests. And I am here to build an audience. If I'm honest, I'm also here to learn. My brain loves learning new things and seeing different perspectives. I'm here to be fed.
What do I do then with this new awareness? I shift gears. I focus more on the words that are there waiting and less on trying to morph them into something consumable. It may also mean sharing less for now. I may be quiet.
The good news is that I recently imported all of my podcast episodes into Substack, so there is plenty to explore in my quiet times, if you are interested.
What about you? What brings you to Substack? Why do you write?
“I write because there are words within me that long to be expressed. I write because it's the only way I've found to adequately express what goes on inside me. When I try to express it verbally, it often fails. It's only the land of metaphor that manages to come close.”
There is magic in the land of metaphors, how clearly we can see a lesson, a re-frame, and understanding.
This is absolutely beautiful Kim!
I resonate with your ideas here deeply.