IWSG: The Purpose of (My) Writing

13 Commentswriting
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

The awesome co-hosts for the November 4 posting of the IWSG are Jemi Fraser, Kim Lajevardi, L.G Keltner, Tyrean Martinson, and Rachna Chhabria!

November 4 question – Albert Camus once said, “The purpose of a writer is to keep civilization from destroying itself.” Flannery O’Connor said, “I write to discover what I know.” Authors across time and distance have had many reasons to write. Why do you write what you write?

Well, I don’t have any delusions about saving civilization… And if Camus is right, I’d like to say we’re doing a piss poor job of it.

But then, Camus always was an optimist.

I’d like to be able to agree with O’Connor, but the truth is, I don’t actually know anything.

I hope that I’m entertaining others as much as I entertain myself. Is there more than that?

Right now, I’m not sure.

Entertainment to keep going. Entertainment to remind people that there’s more than this out there. Entertainment to give people common ground, when none exists in real life. Nobody agrees on anything, but did you see that home run last night?

13 Comments

  1. Diane Burton

    Reply

    When asked the purpose of, say, my website or blog, and given multiple choice, the only thing that seems to apply is entertainment. And that is what I can live with. If my readers learn something, that’s great. But I’d rather they feel like I entertained them.

    • Karen

      Reply

      I like entertainment. I honestly feel that sometimes, that’s enough. (And who knows. Maybe we’re sending that surgeon back in to work more relaxed, and actually saving lives.)

    • Karen

      Reply

      I think I can promise you that if I do wind up saving the world, it will be entirely accidental, and I hope there’s pie at the reception.

    • Karen

      Reply

      It was a good home run. A little fictional, but other than that… one for the record books.

  4. Loni Townsend

    Reply

    Yeah, civilization isn’t doing so great right now. That’s the wonder and beauty of entertainment. Let’s you escape all the plague of worries with something fun to read.

  8. JEN Garrett

    Reply

    LOL, don’t you know that it’s our Writer’s job to save the world from itself?

    Now, if only they’d actually believe us…

    Well, at least they are entertained!
    (I really enjoyed your post)

  9. K E Garland

    Reply

    I always write to help people see things from a different perspective, to introduce a new thought, and sometimes to let the reader know they’re not the only one thinking what they’re thinking.

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