I don't consider myself to be a writer as such. I am more of a person who loves to write because that's the only thing that makes me happy.That's probably the reason we all like to write.
I have tried to analyse why writing makes me happy. Well, because I have a lot of time these days. I realized I don't like writing because I'm good at it. It's because other people make me feel I'm good at it.
I also realized I am good at doing other things too. But no one even notices them. When I meet anyone outside of family, they often end up saying, "Do blog about this experience." That may be because they don't have anything to tell me but it makes me feel important.
That brings me to the thought behind this post. What is the biggest vice of a writer? I feel it's the constant need of approval. This need of wanting to be read, appreciated, and criticized.
If you are able to express yourself through art, are you doing it for yourself and how much of it is for others? Or how much is it for the appreciation?
I say that I write for myself and I can get pretty defensive about it. But I am very aware that writing is the easy part. Getting an audience to like it is the tough part.Sometimes, I feel that I don't want appreciation as much as I want a response. Is it normal to feel so when you write for yourself?
But if I write for myself, why is it that I care so much? Why is that a little word of encouragement can lift my mood instantly? Why is that I'm willing to expose a part of me to the entire world out there?
Why is that we as writers need this constant stamp of approval? Is is because during the process of writing you lose objectivity? Or is because you are too scared to know the truth yourself? Or is it because we all are hungry for appreciation and approval?
Do you also as a writer feel vindicated when some one loves your work? Are you upset when your blog or soemthing you have written fails to generate any response? How do you deal with this aspect of being a writer?
I would love to know your insights and finally what do you think is the biggest vice of a writer is?
