by Sabeen Sidiki

Created on: November 03, 2008

The question, why people write, is difficult to answer. The difficulty arises because of the fact that each writer has his own reason to give. But one thing is common to all writers; that is, all of them write because they think that they have something to communicate to others- maybe ideas, emotions or thoughts, or even visions. Bernard Shaw believed that he had ideas to give to the world. He, therefore, at first tried the medium of the novel,; when he found that the medium in his hands was ineffective, he turned to the drama and the platform. He found in the drama an adequate medium and decided to write plays for propogating his views. Another example of a writer for whom writing was a means of communication was Bertrand Russell. All these great writers were determined to disseminate ideas and make the world a better place for mankind.

Apart from communicating ideas, thoughts, etc. there are other particular reasons which compel people to write. The first and foremost reason is perhaps the need to earn a living. In the history of writing we find that only some could make enough, or more than enough, from writing. All the others like Dr. Johnson and Oliver Goldsmith were always in want in spite of their greatness as writers. Dr Johnson himself has said:

"No man but a blockhead ever wrote except for money". Ransom bewails the lot of the writer who is penniless, he says:

God have mercy on the sinner

Who must write without a dinner

No gravy and no grub

No pewter and no pub

No belly and no bowels

Only consonants and vowels

Surely, there must be motive forces other than the desire to communicate one's ideas, views, etc. to others and the need for money; for, as Juvenal says: "The incurable itch of writing possesses many". According to George Orwell, there are four great motives for writing, besides the two mentioned above. He says that these motives exist in different degrees in every writer and that in any one the proportions will vary from time to time, according to he atmosphere in which he is living.

The first of these four great motives is sheer egoism. Egoism engenders in the writer a desire to seem clever, to be talked about, to be remembered after death. In other words the writer yearns for recognition in his own lifetime, and immoral fame after his death. Milton calls this 'that last infirmity of noble mind'; he says:

Fame is the spur that the clear spirit doth raise...

To scorn delights, and live laborious days.

It is sheer egoism that makes Bryon sing: "I woke one

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