I am a self taught writer. I have no formal training so I rely on feedback from my readers to improve my writing. People have asked a few times - why do I write what I write? The answer is that writing is a marvelous medium. It allows us to safely explore things. This doesn't mean that we as the authors desire or condone said activities - just that we are exploring it. I personally find more satisfaction in treading into subjects that others fear to touch, as it pushes me to grow as an author.