A couple days ago, I found Christine Lee Zilka through Meghan Ward’s blog, and I was touched by her post about whom she writes for. (Spoiler: her dad.) She ended the post by asking who we write for, and this was my response.
I don’t write for just one person… I write for myself first and foremost (which makes me feel guilty after reading a post like this, lol, but oh well) and then for my mom and dad. And then my close friends. And then maybe the teachers and mentors along the way who said I could do this, who tried to help me succeed. And then for my (nonexistent, yet) children, who I want to teach to follow their dreams. And then of course for my (nonexistent, yet) fans, lol.
Yes, all those people are in my head every time I sit down to write. It gets a bit noisy, though, so I ask all of them to shut up. And then I write for the characters.
It’s true. And I didn’t even know until I started typing it all out.
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It’s a good question to ask :) Mmm I think most of us write for ourselves first, otherwise it would be hard to get through a book. I always have a couple friends in mind that I think would love to read what I’m writing. Also the characters, because I feel like I owe it to them to get them onto the page (if not me, then no one else will ever set them free).
I never know what I mean until I write it out! What madness. I love this question and have blogged about “the ideal reader” before, which is sort of related. For each thing I write, I think about who would like it and write for them. I definitely get something out of writing for myself (yeah, I have to like it too) but I really have found sharing it with people is the biggest high.
I write for myself and a few people who like to read my little excerpts… that’s it for now.
I absolutely love the part about writing for the characters. Getting to know them, to understand them, to feel what they’re feeling and tell their stories … it’s the most magical part of writing. We write for ourselves and for others, but we also write to take our characters and make them as real to everyone else as they are to us. That’s a beautiful thing :)
I definitely write for myself. I wouldn’t still be writing if I was writing for someone else, and frankly, I’m not even sure what that means, “writing for someone else.”
T.S.-
Precisely! {nods}
Sarah-
Yes, the “ideal reader” indeed. As Erin once put it to me, her ideal reader is her 14 year old self. I think my ideal reader is just me, lol. At whatever age. But same point, I think.
Les-
That would be me, then! So where are my excerpts, eh? ;)
Shari-
Yes! Isn’t it wonderful? They take on a life of their own, and you feel like you owe it to them to get their story right, and make people love them as much as you do.
Sonja-
I think a lot of people go through life doing things they’re not necessarily passionate about. I’m not AT ALL saying that’s what Christina is talking about, but I think her father’s passion probably bled through and enriched her own. Other people might not have any passion for the thing they pursue; they just run off other people’s, whether it’s their parents, significant other, or whoever. It does happen.
I think writing it out is what makes the writing adventure so enjoyable. Love your posts, Kristan. :)
I suppose I’m a little git selfish too because the first person I write for is myself. Then my sister, even with a 17 year difference she still gets me. Then of course any fans that I may soon have. :)
M.E.-
Thanks!
Joelle-
You’ve already got fans. ;)
Well, let’s clarify, we all know you write for me :) j/k. You know the funny thing is, I’ve never thought about who you write for, but why you write.
Haha! That’s a good question as well, and perhaps I shall blog on it another day.
This is so true!!
I never thought about it, but I think that writing is a kind of a nice therapy! :)