"Writing isn't about making money, getting famous, getting dates,
getting laid or making friends. In the end, it's about enriching the
lives of those who will read your work, and enriching your own life as
well. It's about getting up, getting well, and getting older. Getting
happy, okay? Getting happy.
...Writing is magic, as much the
water of life as any other creative art. The water is free. So drink,
drink and be filled up." - Stephen King. - On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
Amazing quote. I just had to share it.
That's
why I write. Sure, if I ever do get published and become a successful
author, that would be a dream come true. If writing ever made me enough
money that I could support myself comfortably for the rest of my life,
awesome. If either of those failed to happen, would I stop
writing? Not a chance. I write because I like to write. I obviously
have a talent for it, so why in God's name would I not play to that
strength? I like the stories that I think of, I like the little
surprises I get when I write something I never thought about before.
But most importantly, I write because it DOES enrich my life. Writing makes me feel alive.
To anyone who's ever written anything, be it here on Ultimate-Guitar or in any other arena, I hope that your writing enriches your life too.
I really appreciate that King's quote included the part about "enriching the lives of those who will read your work," because that's such a crucial part of the process and is often overlooked in favor of personal fulfillment. Don't get me wrong, if I didn't enjoy writing or didn't get anything out of it then there'd be no reason for me to write. But if the people I wrote for didn't get anything out if then there'd be no reason to share it.
