Why Write

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You know there are many other things that are easier to do and that mean a lot less rejection than writing.

You may also experience days when you’d rather do long division by hand than write.

At least with long division, you can see the progress you’re making as you work down the page. With long division, there’s only one right answer.  And you can check your work when you're done. 

Or pull out a calculator.

Writing isn’t like long division. Writing is filled with choices and options. There’s no calculator or formula to check your work.

So why do you write?  Why do you have this burning desire to tell stories?

Because you have to. Because you are hopeful. Because you have an indomitable spirit.

Because you see story everywhere, and there’s nothing you crave more than a good story -- or you wouldn’t watch movies. You wouldn’t read. You wouldn’t gossip with friends.

And you wouldn’t be taking this class.

Here's a guarantee: Yes, you will feel frustrated. Yes, your reach will exceed your grasp. Yes, your aspirations will outreach your skill level.

But you will get better.

And stronger.

And reach further.

Why do you crave stories so much? 

In his craft book, Story, Robert McKee tells us that stories make meaning out of chaos and a chaotic world. This desire for meaning, says McKee, is as old as time. It’s universal: it spans all cultures, all places, all times. 

That's why you have no choice, but to tell a story through words or pictures, spun from your insides.

Writing is for the courageous and the daring. Sure, it's frustrating. Sure, it's hard.

But the more you study your craft, the more you read and write, the more you hang out with daring and courageous writers, the more courageous and daring and stronger you will become in your craft.

Listen to Newbery-honor winning author Gail Carson Levine tell your inner critic to shut up.

Guest Speaker Series: Gail Carson Levine (about 7 minutes)

Gail Carson Levine has written nineteen books for children. Her best-known is Ella Enchanted, which won a Newbery honor in 1998 and was made into a motion picture in 2004. Most of her books are middle-grade/YA fantasy novels, but she has two picture books plus a middle-grade historical novel, Dave at Night, and the middle-grade nonfiction Writing Magic. She and her husband David and their Airedale Reggie live in Brewster, New York.

You can check out Gail's web site and Gail's blog.

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