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Why I Write
Writing for me has always been an arduous task. Articulating my thoughts in a way that satisfies how I feel others will perceive my intellect takes a great deal of time. I feel that my ideas can and should be expressed in the least amount of words possible. It is difficult to elaborate on my ideas because I think restatement is unnecessary, except of course in the case of required writing. For these reasons I avoid writing the majority of the time. People analyze their thoughts and decide what to say before they speak. With writing people spend much more time analyzing their thoughts, and refine what they’re going to write. Writing permits one to be more persuasive, objective, and thorough in their ideas. I write to find people that will affirm my beliefs, to change the minds of those that disagree with me, and to succeed in school which we are told is necessary for success.
I’ve debated with people online in chat rooms and in comment sections. Debating with people leads to finding others that hold your position. When others agree with and defend your position, dopamine is released in your brain. I write to get high in the same way that people ride rollercoasters to get high, the same neurotransmitter is released. People that agree with you are much more likely to become your friend. Most people including me enjoy having friends. I agree with George Orwell when he says people write because of their “desire to seem clever, to be talked about, to be remembered after death, to get your own back on the grown-ups who snubbed you in childhood, etc., etc.” The thought of people viewing you as clever makes you feel good and goes with finding people that agree with you.
One will try to change others’ minds because they want to win the argument. Winning the argument makes you feel superior, and gives you a dopamine and adrenaline release. You’re also trying to get another person to think like you in order to elicit change that you think is good for you, hoping that if enough people share your beliefs they will make changes in the world that you like. (Writers impose themselves upon others aggressively like a bully, but they do so in a subtle way on your most private space, your mind.) I agree with Joan Diddion that even if a writer doesn’t realize or want to admit it that they try to get others to see things like they do. The desire to change others’ minds also
Simply put, writing essays is a requirement to pass certain classes. Getting a degree is necessary to get into many careers that are interesting and or pay well. What exactly would an English professor have their students do besides writing and reading? I think essays are assigned in many classes to force the student to prove that they’ve done the reading or research. The time and effort required to write a proper essay is proof that the writer cares about succeeding. I believe colleges and professors want to give degrees only to those that they feel deserve them. I think the critical thinking involved in writing is why colleges require academic essays.