by Ann Major

Created on: March 29, 2008

We write because we are the keepers of the printed page. With our unique perspectives on life, we have a job which involves the wearing of many hats. So we record and present this perspective to the world-wide-web, we have in essence taken over where Medieval monks left off; recording the annals of history, and of life.

The Hat of a Lifelong Learner:
Writers like us are usually avid readers who like to learn and pick up tidbits of information, even if it is trivia. With a vast storage of knowledge, we are compelled to circulate this information to the general populace; peppered with our own brand of personal experience and know-how.

The Hat of a Philosopher:
Writers inquire about life often at an early age. We have asked all the "whys and wherefores" and have deemed it prudent to come to our own conclusions. We like to ask questions so we can come up with our own philosophy of life.

The Hat of a Preacher:
We we write, some of us like to rant (and sometimes rave). We write because we want to preach the gospel truth ( but the gospel truth is not necessarily connected with religion). Sometimes we preach to ordinary things, such as how to compose a grocery list, set on a budget. On the written page, we are the authoritarian. We ARE in the driver's seat. Our word is gospel.

Hat of the Seeker:
We write to seek enlightenment. Perhaps through the process of writing, we may find illumination about what and why we write. By gaining a higher sanction, we may live to write another day.

The Hat of a Therapist:
We write for personal rejuvenation. In our quest for knowledge and probing questions, we seek to vindicate our weaknesses and frailties to rise above the heap. Through the process of writing, we find better understanding of ourselves and others. Through writing, we achieve some kind of salvation from ourselves where we are our own worst enemy.

The Writer as Poet:
There is no beauty like that of a poignantly-written poem. I admire poets. They have a special rapport with words, rhyme, and rhythm that only a musician can rival. Poets are unique and can not be compared when it comes to writing.

The Writer as Story-Teller:
No one can weave a tale like a writer can. Telling a good story involves tone, timing and the passion of story-telling. When we write to tell a story, we have captivated the minds of innocent readers and we lead them to the ends of the world, just like the Pied Piper of Hamlin leading the children of the village to who knows where.

The Writer's Imagination:
We write because some of us have such vivid imaginations, it has to be laid to rest through writing. Reflect on the magic and macabre of Edgar Allen Poe as compared to the magic and fantasy of Rowling. Both writers have scaled the heights of their imagination, knowing no bounds and limited only by the realms of the imagination. That's why we write.

The Scientist:
When we write, we become discerning personalities who like to probe, dissect and analyze a topic to present clarity to the reader. We manipulate words to fit under the scrutiny of a scientist's microscope. With one slide example, we unveil the hidden truth.

The Writer as Muse:
Writers are all muses. We see the world in a particular light. We want to tell the world of its prophecy, the truth of the shining light. So like the Medieval Monks, we write. We write because we are the mechanics of the cerebral world. We alone hold the key to the Universe. For that reason, we write!

Learn more about this author, Ann Major.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.