Why Write?

Why do we write? As I’ve journeyed through the Writing Project at WKU this summer, I find myself posing this question. I don’t ask this in a “why bother?” sort of way, but rather a “let me count the reasons” way. Through the various components of the project, and with the exploration of various types of writing, I have been overwhelmed by the utter usefulness of writing. I’m afraid I had lost touch with this fact, and am happily rediscovering it. Please join me as I explore the many reasons for and purposes of writing.

         Of course, it may go without saying, but certainly should be acknowledged that writing is an inevitably necessary part of life. Written communication is a vital part of daily living, from composing resumes to expressing interest in funding. Whether we are writing a check or completing an application, we are communicating something with words. Also, as teachers and students, we must acknowledge the necessity of written expression. Language arts, reading, and writing standards must be taught, must be assessed, must be mastered. There’s no getting around it.

         Aside from the obvious, however, I ask…..why write? Why should we embrace our creativity?  What good comes from cultivating the writer within ourselves?

         

         As I began the Writing Project, we were enjoying Bobbie Ann Mason’s Clear Springs, a memoir. There was a great deal of discussion about memories – the ability to recall them, the importance of documenting them, the value of writing as a means of recording them. I was inspired to try my hand at recording some of my early memories, and was pleasantly surprised at how the process of writing enabled me to bring those memories to the surface. As I wrote, more memories would surface. Furthermore, by writing about them, I was able to organize them. Seeing the events documented was extremely gratifying. I realized that recording my experiences in writing actually helped me to recollect them, and even validated the significance of my early years. I recognize the value of writing to remember.

         For this same reason, I acknowledge the significance of journaling about routine events as we go.  Even what seems mundane and insignificant can often become the very essence of our lives, or certain periods of our lives. Reflecting back on my Writer’s Notebook proves this point.  As I was getting acquainted with the process of reflecting at the end of each day, I felt like I floundered a bit and failed to write anything noteworthy. However, when I look back on those early pages, I realize that I’ve effectively documented the spirit of those first days. This, I find, is priceless….a treasure for which I didn’t even realize I’d be looking!

         A journal, a diary, a memoir…. They are precious documentation of the significance of our personal experiences. The written word authenticates the value of our lives. Eventually, if blessed with longevity, memories may fade. How much more precious is the written recollection then! Perhaps Mae West said it best: “Keep a diary and one day it will keep you.”

         Just as writing is a valuable tool for documenting experiences and preserving memories, I also find that it is instrumental in establishing and substantiating perspective. While my set of life experiences is unique to me, I may share certain experiences with other individuals. These mutual experiences may be shared by many people, but almost certainly has a different impact on each person involved. They may be perceived differently and consequently, remembered differently. Therefore, it seems important to note that perspective of an event or experience is as unique as the individual who experienced it.  What better way to establish our unique perspective and to document the impact of an experience than to write about it?  Furthermore, it is in expressing this perspective that we discover so much about ourselves.

         Writing as an instrument for self-discovery and expression seems to be priceless and unparalleled. So often, I have been stricken by the therapeutic value of conversations with good friends as I found myself coming to terms with my feelings about a matter only as I was articulating them aloud. I often find a similar phenomenon occurring when writing. Many times, I have only discovered my true feelings as they were spilling forth onto paper or computer screen.  Just as writing is a tool for organizing my memories, so it is for my feelings. Through writing I can sort through my sentiments, examine my reactions, and compartmentalize my emotions.  I surely am not the first to recognize the therapeutic value of writing. Lord Byron once said, “If I don’t write to empty my mind, I go mad.”          Furthermore, Graham Greene states, “Writing is a form of therapy; sometimes I wonder how all those who do not write, compose, or paint can manage to escape the madness, the melancholia, the panic fear, which is inherent in a human condition.”

         Reflecting on my time in the mental health field, I recall advocating writing being used in such a manner. In fact, I have seen much success with journal usage or letter writing (even, or perhaps especially when the letter will not necessarily be shared with its intended audience) as a means of self-expression. In his 2002 article “As Easy As ABC,” Jim Pollard sites the work of researcher Gillie Bolton. Bolton advocates writing as a therapeutic tool as well, stating, “I couldn’t trust a therapist the way I could a piece of paper.” Positive results from writing are further established in a study documented in “Emotional and Physical Health Benefits of Expressive Writing” (Baikie and Wilhelm, 2005). In this journal article, expressive writing is determined to be beneficial to both emotional and physical well-being and is promoted as a therapeutic tool for trauma survivors.

         Yet another reason to write is its role in the process of learning. Of course, as students, we must demonstrate knowledge and understanding via written expression at times. However, I am referring to something more. With it having been established that writing is a useful tool for retrieving memories and categorizing feelings, I am persuaded that writing learned information in our own words must solidify this knowledge and enhance our retention of information. It seems that there is a great deal of research which corroborates this notion. In his article “Writing and Remembering: Why We Remember What We Write,” Dustin Wax indicates that “before we write, although indistinguishably so — we are putting some degree of thought into evaluating and ordering the information that we are receiving. That process, and not the notes themselves, is what helps fix ideas more firmly in our minds, leading to greater recall down the line.” Wax goes on to state that the same kind of thing happens with other kinds of writing, not merely for note-taking.

         Having revisited and recovered many precious memories this summer through my writing, I was inspired to investigate the value of writing for many purposes. Through personal experience, and verified by the research of others, I have determined that there is little doubt as to the value of writing in relation to sorting through feelings, managing emotions, solidifying memories, retaining knowledge, and expressing individuality. The obvious answer to my initial inquiry as to why we write has indeed been answered, leaving a different question in its stead: Why wouldn’t we write?