Who Is A Writer?

I’m sitting on a log on Beverly Beach in Oregon, watching the powerful waves roll in and smash against the rocks and shoreline. I came down to do a little sketching, but my mind drifted back to writing as I tried to describe the ocean in words.  

Why am I writer? Why do I write?  Why did I start? What are my goals? Why can’t I stop and do something else, like drawing?  Where do the voices in my head come from and why doesn’t everyone have them? Those are just a few things rolling through my mind as I listen to the power and roar of the ocean.

I can’t remember why I started. I was very young because I used to make up stories for my dolls. Then it was stories about things I heard about or saw. People used to tell me to quit making up stories because they weren’t true – but that’s what stories are, isn’t it? I keep writing because I can’t stop. Sometimes I’m discouraged because the story doesn’t work. Or everything I’ve written that day is garbage. And I say that’s it. I quit. But a few hours later I’ve thought of something else and I’m back writing. I have too many stories to tell to quit. My goal is to keep writing and publish my stories. I love the plots and my characters. Maybe someone else will, too. And sometimes I’m trying to get a message out – like my latest book – Don’t Go. I’m trying to educate people about chatrooms. As for the voices in my head – I have no idea why I hear them.

I’d love to hear what other people have to say. Why do you write? Can you tell me where the voices come from?