Why Write & The The Moral Responsibility

Well the great debate was due to arise at some point so...why not. Some of the possible answers that I am aware of are:

(a) enjoyment/satisfaction
(b) to make a living
(c) notoriety/self esteem
(d) to escape their own lives
(e) none of your business
(f) all of the above
(g) other variations or combinations of above

Let's take a look at each one. First (a-enjoyment/satisfaction), this one makes sense to most folks. If writing is something you enjoy, whether you are making loads of money or not, (insert snicker here),then the satisfaction derived is common sense. There is also the satisfaction derived from receiving feedback from readers that they (hopefully) enjoyed your work. Although there are exceptions to every rule, this holds true in most cases. So, lets move on.

The second choice (b-to make a living)many wish to fit into this category although the actual number of writers that can honesty say they do (and not starve)is fairly small overall compared with the number that actually play in the field. I would guess maybe 10% or less. However, many hope to reach this level and consider it a major goal and like most things can either enjoy it or not if money is a primary driving force.

Our next category (c-notoriety/esteem)Some might consider this as strong a point as choice b-making a living. Receiving the acknowledgement or recognition of others in and out of your craft can be as rewarding as the financial aspect itself. For some, who do not need to worry about financial concerns, because they do not have to or they realize that their writing will reach only so far, may tend to reside within this category. Then there is the other side to this category that there are those who "command" this rather than earn it. You know who you are out there...get back in line!

Moving on brings us to a highly sensitive area(d-to escape their lives). Some need to escape their actual physical and mental world and use writing as a tool or therapy if you will to leave it all behind. (Freud is looking over my shoulder here so I need to be careful). This applies to both writers and readers. The main difference is that writers have the choice of creating their own "place" whereas readers have to pick from what the writers offer. Personally, I think that escape exists in many forms so if it isn't hurting anyone else--why not. Although with anything, a sense of concern exists as to not fall completely into the "escape" that has been created for we may not ever get out and back to the reality in which we must live.

There are those who will just say..."hey my reasons are my own and it's none of your business," and thats okay and we respect that but you have to wonder a little about that.

Finally, there are combinations of the choices above which can be mixed and matched to each individual. Some might even select each category and even this makes some sense. And I am sure that there are other areas as well that are possible choices for folks.

However, what I think needs to be kept in mind here though is a double edged sword.

HINT-sounds like the moral of the story coming folks.

There is an evil that lurks within these reasons that some people are not aware of and they subconsciously fall prey to it. There are also others that consciously use this evil to their advantage.

Evil I say--read on...

Write what you want and for the reason you want to is a great philosophy to live by--but--how you are perceived is something that should be considered as well. Whether you want to believe it or not, for whatever reason you chose above, once you place something out there for public consumption--you are now responsible for it.

There are many people out there that will hang on your every word and faithfully await your next work. YOU owe these people. They have adopted you to a certain extent and it is now your duty to not disappoint them by acting the arrogant and pompous fool. We see this with many sports figures and celebrities these days who use their position to espouse their feelings which range from politics to social criticism. This is not their job and it should not become yours whether you are with a major publisher with print runs in the thousands to small presses with print runs in the hundreds.

The bottom line is that no matter what reason you choose to write--your responsibility is to the people that read your work and to keep them happy. It should not be to delude them with your own personal biases.