Why Write

Why do you write? What is the motivation that gives you the desire to place pen to paper. By making our works public you certainly open yourself to some very harsh criticism at times. Is it only a job or a means to acquire fame and fortune?

I enjoy writing as a means of release. I write to escape into worlds, places and situations where only ones mind can venture. I truly have no visions of grander or fame and may not possess the talent to achieve either one. Feeling fortunate to have two books published regardless of peoples feelings regarding the publisher. My biggest desire for what I write is the hope that the story line, a character, or a passage will touch a feeling inside the reader. Why do you write?

Hi AW,



It's to have some influence on the world around you. You were put on this earth with a unique soul, a unique brain, a unique you. Whoever put you here has done so, so that you can share yourself and the things you've learnt with others rather than just pass away quietly when your time is up, taking it all away with you.

That's just my own view anyway. It's not necessarily right

Ahad,
a good point of view. We are all unique and have things to share with others.
To answer AW's question, I write because I feel I have something to share. Even with fictional characters, a story is often based on true events. Writing about things we know makes the story believable. A purely fictional story with no relationship to anything experienced, would be difficult to do.

I see writing as a job because for much of my life it has been. However, I have never thought in terms of any job being "only." Whatever the job, doing it to the best of your ability should be paramount.

Nutter,

I don't wirite-I wrote one book to cheer folks up and give them hope.

I wrote one magazine article which brought in more than the book has.

I have a chldren's book of true stories stored on my computer which I am wondering what to do with.

To my way of thinking, I will move aside and leave room for the talented writers. I will read instead of write.

I have not observed too many battles about reading. No one cares if you read in the powder room, bedroom, living room or dog house.

I can read with my glasses off, or on--nobody cares.
Reading is easy and enjoyable.

I have the stories in my mind and they need to come out. My only hope is that they will be like by those that read them.

Why do I write? Goodness knows. I wrote my first novel in 1998 because things were going on around me that I could not understand and no matter how many questions I asked, I received no explanation. Since nobody was to blame, I decided to write everything down in the form of a story. I sent the manuscript out to publishers and the feedback was very encouraging, although I wasn't surprised to receive a stack of rejection slips.

I stopped writing until 2002 when my brother died and I started writing again. I thought I would be able to raise some money for cancer research but I failed miserably.

When a load of bashers told me how bad I was at writing and added reviews to Amazon without even reading the book, I decided to prove them wrong. Not that it matters in the grand scheme of things. Anything I do or do not do won't add up to a hill of beans.

Mr. Planemaker's Flying Machine is about to be serialised on radio. I wouldn't be paid anything and it may not produce many more sales but it has made my mother feel proud and that is priceless.

Good for you, Shelagh, I think what you have done has added up to quite a bit more than a hill of beans.

More like a mountain of gold--maybe not in your pocket but good will in people's hearts--which is far moe important in the scheme of things!

Maria,
liked what you wrote. Your heart goes into your work and it shows.

Alice wrote:

Good for you, Shelagh, I think what you have done has added up to quite a bit more than a hill of beans.

More like a mountain of gold--maybe not in your pocket but good will in people's hearts--which is far moe important in the scheme of things!

Alice, your triple by-pass left you with a heart the size of a mountain. I'm so glad I met you.

Don't all elves have big ears?

I really enjoyed reading all the comments. I hope you didn't take offense Dick at the way I phrased writing as a job. I noticed you singled out the word (only). I meant no disrespect, I believe as you do that a person who has a job to do should do the very best they can possibly do. Since you are the only person I am aware of that made his living writing I have a question. Did get more enjoyment writing your articles and meeting dead lines or from writing your published book? Maybe they were the same.

I agree with A.W., I write to escape, it's a real bonus when someone reads my work and says they enjoyed it.

Here's why I write:

From Iraq:
I have to say, up front, I am not a big reader. I picked up your book Bearkiller and I could not put it down. From start to finish it kept me reading, I even wanted to miss work just to see what Bearkiller would do next, but duty and my soldiers come first, so I put the book down the first day just long enough to work and I had to finish reading it that night. The adventures were adventurous to say the least but close to realistic, the romance was relatable to the romance we pursue in our daily life, and the honor and valor in which he fought every battle is one that every soldier hopes to achieve in that split second of fate.

Thank you, for sending us a piece of your work and taking the time to sign every copy. I look forward to seeing more of your work in the future.

Sincerely,
Eric D Honeycutt
SFC, USA
Platoon Sgt

Don, nice comments!

Many of us have been getting some good comments lately, acknowledging that our writing is a good thing, that we are saying words that need to be said, words people can relate to.

It is all about making a difference, in ourselves as what is inside is shared and sometimes we heal, in others as we make connections. Sometimes when I read a book I feel like I am spending time with someone, with the author, and I feel sad when I finish the book and have to say good-bye.

Carol

Don your post was great. The one big plus is receiving un-solicited reviews from strangers. I received this one from a lady who posted it on Amazon. It made my day.


I Don't Scare Easily, But..., October 5, 2007

By	Tree Good "author of The Language of Poetry

A well-written, graphic journey through the minds of a psychopath and his victim. This book is not for the young, the squeamish or those faint-of-heart. I cannot say that I enjoyed it, the subject itself does not allow for enjoyment, yet I found that I could not put it down once I started reading it. The horror of it held me transfixed. It does however, come to a most satisfying conclusion.
What makes this book most frightening is knowing that there really are people out there who are exactly like Mr. Nutter's characters, John and Michael. What makes this book so satisfying is knowing that there are also people out there who are exactly like the characters, Bob and Helen. A. W. Nutter is indeed, a spellbinding story teller.

She was speaking of Daddy's Game

I write because I love children!
I want to make a difference in their lives!
It is a gift to be able to write!

Don,the fact that came from a platoon sergeant makes it especially meaningful. Unless they have changed a helluva lot, passing out compliments is not part of their routine.

I'm curious about your hat. What exactly is it?

A. W. Nutter wrote:

Don your post was great. The one big plus is receiving un-solicited reviews from strangers. I received this one from a lady who posted it on Amazon. It made my day.

I Don't Scare Easily, But..., October 5, 2007

A well-written, graphic journey through the minds of a psychopath and his victim. This book is not for the young, the squeamish or those faint-of-heart. I cannot say that I enjoyed it, the subject itself does not allow for enjoyment, yet I found that I could not put it down once I started reading it. The horror of it held me transfixed. It does however, come to a most satisfying conclusion.
What makes this book most frightening is knowing that there really are people out there who are exactly like Mr. Nutter's characters, John and Michael. What makes this book so satisfying is knowing that there are also people out there who are exactly like the characters, Bob and Helen. A. W. Nutter is indeed, a spellbinding story teller.

She was speaking of Daddy's Game

Great review AW! That must have made it all seem worthwhile.

Nutter - you're right, when they come unsolicited, they mean even more!

Dick- It's just a cowboy hat - With a silver eagle pin on the front and a Indian bead hatband I made that matches the neckband I also made.

Quote :

Dick- It's just a cowboy hat - With a silver
eagle pin on the front and a Indian bead hatband I made that matches
the neckband I also made.

I'm glad that Dick asked. Do you have Native American ancestry? That is
one of my main interests and what I write about (mostly). I have tried
for years to track down one of my gr. grandmothers who may be the only
one that may have been part Cherokee.

Brew,

Have you read Don's Amazon short, My Hero, My Dad? It's in the anthology too; in fact, it's the very first story. If you haven't read it, I can highly recommend it!

I read all his other shorts but that one! I will get it tonight. Missed one...

Thanks, Shelagh

Brew,

If you have the anthology, it is in there. It is a very good story.

Carol

Phil,

My paternal grandmother was Oglalla Sioux.