Why do you write?

[Tzara]

Someone has probably asked this question before. (If you hang around here long enough, that statement becomes a truism. If you've hung out here for quite some time, you'll probably find you asked the same question yourself three years ago. Oops.)

Don't care about that, though. Here goes:

When did you start writing? What age were you when you started writing poems or stories or something spontaneous, outside of the writing you had to do for school? Follow-on question: At what age did you start writing poems? (In my case they are different ages--why I ask.)

Other follow-on questions: Why? (If you remember why.) Have you written continuously since then? (I haven't, which again is why I ask.) Why do you continue to do it?

Other questions as they occur to you, or others, to ask

It's just a thread, people. Flirt if you must.

 

[Tzara]

The first "creative" writing I can remember doing was when I was in fifth grade.

I was eleven. I wrote a parody of Frankenstein (as Frank N. Stein--yes, I know, not terribly original), not that I knew anything about the original novel, or even the movie. It was based more on the Aurora monster models than anything, I think. The class "published" a mimeographed newsletter or "magazine" printed, as I recall, on a kind of pinkish paper. The print was purple and the thing smelled of duplicating fluid.

Later that same year I did a comic strip, tracing the images out of comics I had, changing the costumes and names, writing my own fifth-grade dialogue.

It was kind of a hit, but didn't get me a girlfriend. Maybe I should have put a pony in it. Or perhaps it was that my superhero had all the muscle definition of a starfish.

Don't know. But, neither DC nor Marvel picked the series up. Probably considered it derivative.

 

[KillerMuffin]

When did you start writing? What age were you when you started writing poems or stories or something spontaneous, outside of the writing you had to do for school? Follow-on question: At what age did you start writing poems? (In my case they are different ages--why I ask.)

Other follow-on questions: Why? (If you remember why.) Have you written continuously since then? (I haven't, which again is why I ask.) Why do you continue to do it?

Other questions as they occur to you, or others, to ask

The (Really, Really Bad) Ballad Of KillerMuffin

At tender four, I think, is when I began
to pick up pen (okay a crayon)
and coat the walls with my imagination.
(It lit the fuse on mom's tampon).

The words made no sense, the letters not English
or anything recognizable
really. Oh, the stories I wrote on fish
belly walls of my domicile.

My stories developed with literacy
as I advanced through grade school years.
They were annoying and, well, pretty crappy;
that didn't stop my pencil's gears!

Then came the day I discovered my joy,
my love, my heart, the typewriter!
I churned them out, story after story,
at last, I was a real writer!

Okay, my stories still really sucked rocks.
I hit fifteen and poetry
because nothing says writer like teen angst.
Make that really, really crappy.

I like to think that I've gotten better
by practicing over the years.
But looking over this ballad I've written?
It's so bad, it's brought me to tears.

 

[annaswirls]

mmmmm I loved the smell of the mimeograph paper. When we die, no one will remember that smell. The papers, still warm from the machine being passed out by a frantic teacher who had to hand turn the pages over her 20 minute lunch break....we would hold it up to our noses, breathe in deep the still damp pages.....mmmm

Well, it might not have gotten you a 5th grade girlfriend, but it was all training. Look at all the ladies who are drawn to your talents (among other things) now.

The first "creative" writing I can remember doing was when I was in fifth grade.

I was eleven. I wrote a parody of Frankenstein (as Frank N. Stein--yes, I know, not terribly original), not that I knew anything about the original novel, or even the movie. It was based more on the Aurora monster models than anything, I think. The class "published" a mimeographed newsletter or "magazine" printed, as I recall, on a kind of pinkish paper. The print was purple and the thing smelled of duplicating fluid.

Later that same year I did a comic strip, tracing the images out of comics I had, changing the costumes and names, writing my own fifth-grade dialogue.

It was kind of a hit, but didn't get me a girlfriend. Maybe I should have put a pony in it. Or perhaps it was that my superhero had all the muscle definition of a starfish.

Don't know. But, neither DC nor Marvel picked the series up. Probably considered it derivative.

 

[Tzara]

Look at all the ladies who are drawn to your talents (among other things) now.

Umm, well...

I have learned to deal with that.

 

[annaswirls]

Umm, well...

I have learned to deal with that.

are you denying us your essence?

 

[annaswirls]

When did you start writing?

second grade~ poem on purple mimeograph as well

What age were you when you started writing poems or stories or something spontaneous, outside of the writing you had to do for school? Follow-on question: At what age did you start writing poems? (In my case they are different ages--why I ask.)

very young.my first love poetry was in 1st grade when my sweet boyfriend RJ enrolled in private school and I wrote love lost poetry in red crayon on my grandmothers walls. They are still there under the wallpaper we were putting up, of course, I would only confess what was about to be hidden.

I recently saw him on Facebook with his 4 kids.

Other follow-on questions: Why? (If you remember why.)

it is the only way I could understand anything.

It was how I could work things out. figure out who I was or what the fuck is going on around me

Also starting in about 4th grade I was scared of the intense feelings of sexuality, some of which I thought were quite "odd" or "abnormal." I was sure if I ever opened up to anyone I would turn into a total slut-whore-not sure what I would have called it then. Someone who kissed fucked whatever with anyone who was interested and interesting.

Writing was what I did instead of letting myself be intimate with anyone. It was a safe lover. Even for a 10 year old. Narcissism. Maybe in its purest form.

besides, writing was seriously the only way I ever really understood anything. It was like having my own interpreter for this strange and amazing experience called what the fuck- life?

I can't believe I just figured that out. You bastard, Tzara. Will you charge by the hour?

Have you written continuously since then? (I haven't, which again is why I ask.)

kind of. I went through work-a-holism in my late 20's-early 30's not much time to write much, working overworking, going to grad school, trying to be a good wife. I painted then and did weird mosaic stuff. Made crazy homemade stained paper.

Why do you continue to do it?

Guess it is still the only way I can ever really understand the meaning of anything.

for a short while I think I wrote to get "laid" or at least virtual adoration, but found it is so so so easy just to physically go out for that. Much easier than trying to lure them in with wit or charm or insight. Christ, just lean over a little bit, easy. Too easy.

Anything that easy is worthless. Well the actual writing is easy. Making real connections without physical connection is difficult.

Writing is a constant lover. Never tells my secrets while telling all of my secrets. Intimate and safe.

Sex is so easy. Easy, common. Writing? Getting into someone through words? That is a fuck worth my time.

Okay getting up off the couch. send the bill.

 

[Tzara]

are you denying us your essence?

Not exactly denying it, but it's difficult to cram one's essence down even a 100 Mbit connection, let alone the occasional dial-up one.

But I was thinking more of the "women sense my power" part.

 

[WickedEve]

I started writing Jesus poems in grade school. From the time I was old enough to write, I was writing stories and poems and have continued to do so all my life. Though I really didn't understand poetry until I came to the forum here and started talking to other poets. So I usually tell people that I began writing poetry in 2001.

Why do I write? It sounds dorky, but I write because it's a need, just like meat, coffee, and dildos.

 

[Tzara]

I hit fifteen and poetry
because nothing says writer like teen angst.

Tzara as Sensitive High School Student,
Reading Anne Sexton's Love Poems

When I was in my teen years, seething
With existential dread and want
Brought on by hormones pushing breeding
And striving to act nonchalant,
I suddenly wrote my first poëms
On dripping xylem, spurting phloem
(Both metaphors for other stuff
Of wood-like texture in the buff).
My verse, though, turned out very wooden—
For I knew naught of written art
And hardly knew quite how to start
To write a Bad Poem, yet a Good One.
Now 56, I still write trash
And still dream of Anne Sexton's ass.

 

[WriterDom]

I grew up dyslectic and had a fear of writing anything for a long time.

 

[unpredictablebijou]

When did you start writing? What age were you when you started writing poems or stories or something spontaneous, outside of the writing you had to do for school? Follow-on question: At what age did you start writing poems? (In my case they are different ages--why I ask.)

I wrote my first illustrated short story, The Lonely Little Pancake, when I was four, as a birthday present for my grandfather. A monster ate the lonely pancake, but then experienced regret. A doctor removed the pancake, and they all became friends and had a picnic.

I believe my first poetry happened shortly after that, again as presents for various grampas. I loved both my grandfathers fiercely. Still do.

Other follow-on questions: Why? (If you remember why.) Have you written continuously since then? (I haven't, which again is why I ask.) Why do you continue to do it?

Other questions as they occur to you, or others, to ask

It's just a thread, people. Flirt if you must.

I began keeping a diary at age 7, when I was given one of those cute dated ones for my birthday. The idea that one might report on one's thoughts and experiences just entranced me, and I was hooked. It was hard to keep up with, but I did my best to write at least a sentence every day, even if it was just "nothing special." I kept the record for the sake of my imaginary friend, a "poor child from Africa" (we were always hearing about Poor Children in Africa). I would imagine showing her around, demonstrating the wonderful machinery she would now have access to in America, like washcloths and toasters.

I learned about this thing called a "journal" when I was about 9. In fifth grade we were required to keep one, and I deluged the teacher with several notebooks detailing every thought I had. I'm sure she was entranced.

I can't not write. I have kept journals ever since, except for certain periods of deep crisis. Not writing is a sign that I am unhealthy. Like going off my feed.



*gratuitous flirt*

 

[hmmnmm]

saw this last night, thought it an interesting something to wonder about, but find it is much more difficult to answer than I expected. Plus, whatever I might say here has probably been covered Elsewhere.

For now?

I can't really recall having much real interest in Writing. I was usually interested in something else, doing something, being someone else; every now and then someone would mention they found something I wrote entertaining or 'good' or whatever else in a positive light. If I chose to believe them or they were someone I wanted to believe or believe in I may have pursued Writing more seriously, which always leads to trouble. Sometimes I would rebel and continue what I was more interested in, though I'd not get much better, knowing deep down I was probably better suited to written expression. Once in a while someone would call me poet and I'd get pissed off and argue, deny it.

I guess it would come down to a blend of three ingredients: what I enjoy just because it feels good to do it, what another might enjoy (something to give them a laugh or a smile), and what I can somewhat manage without having to work too hard. Still haven't figured that one out. Hopefully never will.

Might have to do with space. Creating space. Whatever best achieves that in any given situation. Maybe?

 

[DarkAmaranth]

Well I don't often hang out here, but I thought I'd pole my pointy little nose in and add my ramblings.

I'm not sure when I actually started writing for enjoyment (rather than for functional purposes), but I do have a copy of a frankly appalling poem which I wrote in year 2, based on colours. My story-writing took off after year 4 - mainly because I was given tasks where I would have to write a short story around a given brief or scenario.

Why do I write? Well, I write partially as a vent for things (they do say that paper has more patience than people......) and partially because to say my drawing is like a five-year-old's would be insulting to the child! (By way of an explanation to the latter point, I have all these pictures in my head, but can only express them through the medium of words.) Plus I have also discovered that I have a thing for words and phrases which flow and so many of my poems are designed to be said, even if it is only in the reader's head lol.

My writing comes in fits and starts, depending on my emotional state and how much time I have to think things over. Recently I have been going through a bit of a drought, but there are signs that the rainclouds may be approaching......
In the past 5/6 years I have started keeping a diary, but the reasons for that are more than just pleasure and I don't have time to write in it each day (so hence sometimes it ends up being more of a logbook of events which I can use if I can't remember what date something was lol).

Anyway, I am sure I have now completely borsed (or confuddled) the socks off you all, so I will shut my big mouth now and let someone else have a turn

 

[KillerMuffin]

Tzara as Sensitive High School Student,
Reading Anne Sexton's Love Poems
(Both metaphors for other stuff
Of wood-like texture in the buff).

Who says poetry can't be pornographic?

Whew.

 

[PurpleTiara]

I do not remember writing for myself in my native languages as child, as there is a very strong and formal literature tradition that intimidated me. Who can compare with Nizar Qabbani or Khalil Gibran? I cannot. When I was about 8 or 9, I was familiar enough with reading English (though I still struggle with aspects) to write a little bit. I think the difference was that I was only exposed to classical literature at that age in Arabic and Hebrew, but my mother had a wide variety of genres in the English and French books we had. I felt less constrained in English, even though I had less facility with the language. I do not have enough French to write in it at all.

My secondary school had a very rigorous curriculum and long school day, so I did not write much outside of school.

In college, I began to write more poetry, and short stories and start exploring erotica. Now I write nearly every day, with no specific goal in mind, except that it does cut down on the amount of white noise in my head. I thinkit keeps my brain from boiling over.

 

[GuiltyPleasure]

Who says poetry can't be pornographic?

Whew.

Pornographic? Or erotic?

here we go......again

 

[Tzara]

Who says poetry can't be pornographic?

Whew.

Naropa University's brand new College of Forestry has adopted the slogan Botany: It's lubricious, although some critics think this is perhaps a lure to attract students from more literary majors. As new department chair Nate Sildenafil puts it, "Trees get it on with anyone. A pine not only dusts its fellow conifers, but it just soaks its seed on anything within wind range. And ragweed? Whoa! Even I feel that love, if you know what I mean. Paging Benadryl!"

But Dr. Sildenafil has a solution, albeit a radical one—condoms for trees and other pollinating plants.

"If we plan parenthood of our human children, shouldn't we plan parenthood of other parts of the biosphere?"

The pilot program focuses on biodegradable "sacs" that are placed over the fruiting element of plants to contain their often lively sexual cells that are proliferated by wind, animals, insects, and such.

As the animated Dr. Sildenafil puts it, "You can't get hit if it don't emit."

 

[EroticOrogeny]

When did you start writing? What age were you when you started writing poems or stories or something spontaneous, outside of the writing you had to do for school? Follow-on question: At what age did you start writing poems? (In my case they are different ages--why I ask.)

I first started writing while an undergrad. I started out majoring in chemistry but soon switched to physics (no chemical formulae to memorize, just equations to know how to work). I later became an English major, focusing on modern poetry and drama. I oscillated between English and physics thereafter, settling on physics (no double major since the department changed the requirements during a physics foray). I took a couple of creative writing courses, one 'generic' with ?, another just poetry with Ruth Stone. In the former I learned that I had a way to go with fiction, but was OK with poetry. Ruth had us read some of our poems in class, and some of mine went over well. So, in a sense, they could be called 'for school', but the interest in writing came before signing up for the courses. I also wrote for myself when not in one of those classes. I can recall the tone of a couple of then generally, but not more, and they're now lost. I do remember a line from another:
Weed deeds in lines alinear
part of a poem found mostly incomprehensible by others.

Other follow-on questions: Why? (If you remember why.) Have you written continuously since then? (I haven't, which again is why I ask.) Why do you continue to do it?

After graduating I didn't really write outside of things for school (went on for an MS in geophysics shortly afterward) or work. Much later, after getting my PhD (geology, 2008) I started writing as a part of renewed romance with my wife. We often read one as a prelude to foreplay. So they work, at least in that regard. Fewer sexual metaphors may not have the same effect for us. I decided to post some on literotica, and then have been trying the survivor challenge, more for my growth (probably still need a lot). Writing now becomes both an intellectual exercise and a means of expressing some of my feelings (The Man Who Wasn't there) helped with some feeling I have. So I'll continue to write, both for myself and also for the 2 of us.

 

[AprilisAstra]

When did you start writing? What age were you when you started writing poems or stories or something spontaneous, outside of the writing you had to do for school? Follow-on question: At what age did you start writing poems? (

Other follow-on questions: Why? (If you remember why.) Have you written continuously since then? (I haven't, which again is why I ask.) Why do you continue to do it?

I started writing when I was in first grade. I EVEN have my original first "published" book. By published I mean printed out sheets on spiral and my own crayoned illustrations, lol. Along with a few others. I never had another school that was so supportive of writing like that. But outside of school I'd have to say I was writing in middle school. 12 or so. Though, those books in first grade weren't obligatory, so I'm not sure what counts really.

Why! Why? I suppose because I had things to say that I didn't want people to hear, and then after a while I got enough criticism that people liked what I was writing in class. Then, on the internet, came blogging, and later, around 15, poems Of COURSE I continue to do it, though I do write a mish mash of fantasy, poems, short stories.

I'm only 20 now, but I'm working on my college campus literary magazine right now, and my mother was a professional proof reader. Thousands of books since I've grown up. I love my words. And yours

 

[Equinoxe]

I believe my first 'serious' attempt at writing was when I was eight years old: I remember that it was a creative writing project for school, and I wrote a long, rambling (and in retrospect, vaguely homoerotic) story that my teacher found very odd.

My first spontaneous, self-directed attempts at writing were actually not until much later, when I was maybe fifteen, although I did attempt to write a bit at an earlier age due to an acquaintance who wanted to start a writing club (but never actually succeeded in doing so)—which is odd, because I am terrible at writing for some external reason. Poetry was a much later endeavour for me; I was always more comfortable with prose until quite recently, in part due to struggling with fundamental aspects of English verse.

I don't recall there being a reason why I started writing for myself when I did, at least not in that sense: it just seemed like something I wished to do. That I still write, when I do, is the same ("I sing because I am a singer..."). But I haven't written continuously since then, it has been in fits and starts and always dependent on mood.

 

[Angeline]

I've been writing stories ever since I can remember. I spent a lot of time alone as a child, for various reasons, and I entertained myself by making up stories. I am pretty sure the first poem I wrote was in sixth grade, and it was angsty antiwar crap. But I liked it. My stories were often quite elaborate and went on for chapters, about the Beatles, about Star Trek. By the time I was 13 or so I was writing porny stuff.

I write because it's how I enjoy expressing myself and because I love playing with language.

 

[Tzara]

Thank all of you for your responses, especially since you almost always read my original post and responded to my first question (How old were you...) and not my dimwitted title (which was not, or mainly not, my question).

Well. We've certainly established that you all are very clever and I am dim.

Not that that was anyway in question.

Whatever. Let's move on. I haven't even answered all my own questions my own self.

At what age did you start writing poems?

Eighteen. I enrolled in a creative writing class the last semester of my senior year in high school. I think the first time I wrote anything like a poem.

They were, of course, awful. But some of the free verse things "showed promise" according to my teacher.

I fiddled with poems for a while afterwards, mostly through my years in college. What I wrote was universally all dumb, meaning "stupid," although they certainly should have been dumb, meaning "mute."

Bad. EPA Superfund bad.

Still am, of course. Bad. But now, somehow happy.

I re-started writing poems for several reasons. I wanted to understand how poems work. They're short, which means I can actually complete them (as opposed to stories). They're kind of fun to compose, however badly.

Which helps to answer

Why?

Because it's fun.

 

[Tzara]

Why do I write? It sounds dorky, but I write because it's a need, just like meat, coffee, and dildos.

I'm picking here on Eve, but several of you have said similar things.

I envy you.

I have no need to write. I've literally been through decades where I essentially didn't write. I mean, at all, other than computer code to service Accounts Receivable or something.

I write because I like to—it's recreation. Fun.

But that's not the same degree of want, and desire surely focuses one on how to do things right.

I'd say I hate you, but I don't. I'm a bit envious, as I said, but on the other hand, I'm pretty happy being dilettante.

Born and bred for it, I suspect.

 

[The_Fool]

Someone did ask this question before. A couple of years ago. My answer still stands. I started writing for pleasure.....literally. Okay, I wrote to get laid. Probably established my method of writing at the same time. Good party trick to whip out a poem for some young lovely so she would rip off her clothes. Okay, so it just took me one step closer. It was a great conversation starter though.