What makes us write? Is it for profit? Is it for peer recognition? Is it some deep-seated need to express ourselves in a medium more durable than conversation? Is it that some germ of an idea wheedles its way into our brain, and we feel the compulsion to bring life, form and substance to that idea? Or for giving pleasure to others/ourselves? Probably at least one of the above, maybe more than one.
For whatever reason we write, we write. I don’t think the reason really matters as long as we are enjoying the process, and a good part of that enjoyment is dictated by what and how we write.
Shopping lists don’t feature very high on my enjoyment scale, though there is a definite feeling of satisfaction if I can come home with everything bought and nothing forgotten. But that’s a personal matter!
However, the ultimate enjoyment comes from achieving the original aim. How deeply satisfying it is to review your latest masterpiece, nod your head in appreciation, smile and comment to anyone who may be within earshot, ‘Yes, that’s a good one!’
Even if there is no one within earshot, there is no harm in a bit of ego-boosting self-congratulation! Though nothing boosts the ego like a bit of success.
I’ll expand on that: Taken from the top of my opening list is profit. Did we sell it? Yay! Look at that! There are people out there who are willing to pay good money for my work! Big ego boost!
Next comes peer recognition. Did you like it? You did? That’s as good as a warm hug on a cold day.
Had we something which really needed to be said? Well, we said it, and we meant it! Take me seriously, I am capable of independent thought, respect me. Silently, you could add ‘So there!’ But that’s probably best not done out loud.
Did an idea take over and hold us to ransom until we gave in to its demands? Are we wusses for giving in to its psychological pressure? No, of course not! We took the idea, decided which way up it should go, straightened out all the creases, checked for run stitches or small holes, ran a metaphorical iron over it, and hung it up, all nice and fresh and ready to go.
I’m going to take a little detour here. I can’t remember when, but a fair time ago, Sue Borgensen wrote a Writing Prompt, I think it was, and featured as an illustration a picture of two toothpaste tubes. Those tubes connected immediately with my inner silly, and I wrote a tiny piece about them. I enjoyed doing it, and quite a few others over the years have enjoyed reading it.
Now, to effortlessly rejoin the main direction of this piece. The last topic, hanging in there, desperately, by its fingernails, is ‘Giving pleasure, etc.’ It might be the last, but for me it is the most important.
Every Monday, I open up Facebook to see what sort of reception my Sunday piece of nonsense has generated.
And I get a genuinely warm glow from knowing that I have made a cross-section of the community smile! I was not made to produce block-busting literature – I am no J K Rowling, but I made some people happy, and that was worth it!
Lastly, not perhaps my finest moment, but I will share it.
When I was at school, way back in the last century, we were, as a class, reading Dickens. The teacher, who I can honestly say was a little strange, was seeking our thoughts on why Dickens had written a particular work.
All the usual responses had been given – social comment, enlightening the masses, bringing the injustices of life into the spotlight, etc, when it came to be my turn.
Well, all the good reasons were already taken, so I ventured that maybe he wrote it because it was a good story that he knew would sell. Maybe I was right, but my contribution was not well received! In between the classroom and the headmaster’s study, my feet didn’t touch the ground!
But maybe I was right!?
Dickens’ portrait courtesy of Wikicommons
Thanks for this piece, Jos. Very enjoyable read.
I replied, and for some reason my reply is on Gill’s space?
One of the many mysteries of Life!
Oh Jos, you were right, very right.
Dickens wrote to be admired by the well-off more than for any other reason.
As an (adopted) Orcadian I despise Dickens who wrote for Lady Franklin’s cause to destroy the reputation of one of the best explorers of Franklin’s age, who thrived in the Arctic because he befriended, took advice from and learned from the Inuit. When they told him that Franklin’s crew had turned cannibal when, (this reason they didn’t know), the leakage from the canning process affected their sanity, in addition to the harsh conditions they were unable to deal with; Lady Franklin set out to destroy John Rae, and Dickens’ popular reports were the tool the two used together.
I never enjoyed Dickens as a child, but this has led me to hate him as a man without morals. He never spoke to John Rae to find out what he knew and how he knew it.
Your piece is well thought out.
Two toothpaste tubes may lead to squeezing out the truth, but the truth about Rae and his true report of the end of Franklin’s exploration has taken until now to be fully recognised and appreciated: before this the fat, untested tube was thought to contain the better explanation.
Thanks Gail, glad you liked it.
Why is this on your reply block Gill?
I didn’t know all that about Dickens and John Rae. There is no good outcome to that for either of them.
Lovely piece, Jos.
I share your satisfaction with a shopping list completely fulfilled. I feel the same way about To Do lists though being able to tick off every item on one of those is a rare achievement.
Of course Dickens was writing to tell a good, commercial story. As a former English teacher myself, I apologise on behalf of the profession for your former teacher’s failure to recognise and applaud your acuteness.
I followed Gill’s comment by looking up the Dickens/Franklin/Rae connection. That’s sad. But despite his many good qualities, he was an Englishman of his age. He was, in our terms, a racist and a misogynist, and at times a rabble-rouser. But he also wrote some very good stories. He was a human being, not a saint. As are we all.
I’ll make a link from your comment to Sue B’s writing prompt with the toothpaste tubes.
Thanks John.
I always approach my Pens tasks with a degree of trepidation, so your remarks, and the other comments as well are greatly appreciated.
I feel pleased with myself, my ego is boosted!