Why I write
(i) Sheer egoism. Desire to seem clever, to be talked about, to be remembered after death, to get your own back on the grown-ups who snubbed you in childhood, etc., etc. It is humbug to pretend this is not a motive, and a strong one. Writers share this characteristic with scientists, artists, politicians, lawyers, soldiers, successful businessmen — in short, with the whole top crust of humanity. The great mass of human beings are not acutely selfish. After the age of about thirty they almost abandon the sense of being individuals at all — and live chiefly for others, or are simply smothered under drudgery. But there is also the minority of gifted, willful people who are determined to live their own lives to the end, and writers belong in this class. Serious writers, I should say, are on the whole more vain and self-centered than journalists, though less interested in money.
Ohno! I don’t say that although I believe every writer [and blogger] feels that way. George Orwell, in his classic essay, Why I Write lists out four reasons among which the above quote is his first one [via]. I often wonder why the hell we shy away from the obvious truths of life. Hai toh bolne ka, darne ka kay ko! So much for talks on self-promotion and narcissism. Now, lets give a little less hell to those bloggers who claim they write for themselves although I still believe they don’t; the Z has a precise number on those who do.
Technorati Tags: George Orwell, narcissism, writing, blogging, writer, journalist
“Why I write” [Short URL: http://www.ipatrix.com/?p=1583] was published Thursday, August 10th, 2006 at 6:13 pm by Patrix, filed under Politicking, and tagged as blogs. Both comments and linkbacks are closed.
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Mmm, those statistics seeem shady. Musicians like to be heard, writers like to be read. I personally *do* write for myself–to improve my writing structure and grammar. I’ve had a journal since…6th grade, and it’s just a habit I’ve gotten into. *shrug*
-_-
4 years ago replyVi, Did I forget to mention that those statistics were tongue-in-cheek? :)
4 years ago replyI do write to become famous, and therefore to get more business. Haven’t admitted it on my blog…but have admitted it on another forum :D
Gautam
4 years ago replyHey i do not completely agree with you…I too write for myself…reasons being …improvement in writing skills..but largely to remember all the defining moments in my life and cherish them when I grow with time and experience..
But obviously within us, we all like appreciation and attention.
4 years ago replyhow about we write for ourselves with a little sensitivity for the readers reactions……….
4 years ago replyGautam, Glad you are upfront about it. And I think your blog is doing a great job of that.
Saish, ok! I believe you :) Whatever the reason, blog on!
M, the problem with the latter part of your sentence is that the “little” sensitivity often becomes a “lot of sensitivity” as your readers increase. No matter whatever you say, it is bound to piss off somebody in this world. Yup! We all are that crazy.
4 years ago replyif you assume that you strive to (a) earn appreciation and (b) be better at – in most things you do – then writing is no different to be singled out.
I think we write because we think we are good at it. As simple as that.
Probably whats different here in blogs is that – (a) and (b) mentioned above does not come as a direct 1-to-1 personal interaction (as it norm in the non-blog world) but it comes in the form of writings by other people. The detachedness of feedback makes it appear magnified.
self-promotion is in fact a very good thing.
4 years ago replyI think that when people say they write for themselves, what they really mean is that they write to write, for the sake of expressing themselves. The act of writing is different from the act of speech: when you speak you can go on and on with the everyday. But writing gives a sense closure, a satisfaction that comes with creating meaning. In blogging hyperlinking takes this a step further, when you are creating meaning not just in your immediate context. Whether or not bloggers write for themselves, they are aware that they are part of one big conversation happening in a large hall. Which is why I love the Global Voices Online tagline: “The world is talking. Are you listening.”
About bloggers who write specifically to ‘promote’ themselves, or do ‘professional’ blogging to make money, this sort of thing is not to be taken with shock. For every hundred chatterboxes there is a man who is willing to collect the courage to go on stage and address publicly, knowing fully well that an applause is awaiting him. Ultimately it is immaterial what the motive of blogging/writing is: what;s important is if people are reading you and are engaging with your conversation. It’s a free market where content is king and self-promotion and take you only thus far. Some bloggers consciously appeal to the lowest common denominator, they are very much like The Times of India. I don’t blame them: I blame those who read them. The blogosphere is full of ToI types who know that getting eyeballs means sex and humour – why, just look at Uncle Uncut’s last 10 posts on any given day!
4 years ago replyHawkeye, I agree that self-promotion isn’t a bad thing at all. Like making profit, it is often made out to be a bad thing by some. Regarding blogger/writer-reader interaction, read this great piece, Gentle Reader, Stay Awhile, I’ll be Faithful recently shared with me by Chetan.
Shivam, I lost you somewhere around the ‘Uncle Uncut’ taunt. To me, each blogger has a choice about what he or she wishes to write about. Even if its merely a link blog, it is a consicous choice to do so. We as readers can always vote with our mouse. If they find enough readers that like their content, good for them. After all, you also are responsible for your words and actions and they reveal much more about you than about anyone else.
4 years ago replyPatrix: exactly, exactly what I’m saying. My point is that there are two types of bloggers: one who write what they feel like writing and two who write keeping in mind what sells. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with the latter.
When you say – “they reveal much more than you than about anyone else” – you mean about you, right?-
4 years ago replysaw the link you provided. Very good. Thanks
4 years ago reply