Yeah, I don’t like the double negative either, but we all understand it. We’ve all been asked the question: why do you write? When I hear the question, I don’t answer right away. Perhaps it’s because I really don’t know why I write. What I do know, however, is I can’t stop. Writing and storytelling is as essential to me as breathing…or drinking coffee. For many of us, writing isn’t just a hobby or even a profession—it’s a fundamental part of our identity. The phrase “I can’t not write” speaks to an internal motivation that goes far beyond external rewards or recognition.
Stories Are Everywhere
There are stories all over the place. As an introvert, I loved waiting in airports (pre-TSA, of course) to people watch and make up stories. The young woman sitting across from me was flying to start a new job in a faraway location. Or, the couple standing in line were barely keeping their marriage together. And from those tiny beginnings, I created whole backstories that continued to play out in my head.
The second Stephanie Hart novel—Hard Look Back—was partially based on a television commercial for toilet paper. In the commercial, a Dad was sitting on the edge of a bathtub with his leg covered in shaving cream. His daughter was sitting on the side of the sink, and he was teaching her how to shave her legs—using the toilet tissue after nicking his leg. That scene was alluded to in the novel and was a feature of the relationship between two of my characters.
Stories are indeed, everywhere. This is why I always frown when people ask: “where do you get your ideas?” What I want to tell them is: “Have you looked at anything or anybody in the world recently? How could you not see a story there?”
Time to Play
While I hated studying English in high school (but majored in it in college), I’ve always appreciated a unique turn of phrase. And sometimes, I’ve asked myself why I can’t do that. Of course, I likely don’t do it as well as more experienced writers, but that doesn’t matter. Playing with language is still fun.
In addition, I have a bad habit of talking to myself, especially while driving. I may be working out a problem by talking it through, but at other times, I’m playing with ideas I’ve come up with for a new short story or novel. Writers can develop lots of ideas by simply being open to play.
Yes, It’s a Compulsion
The compulsion to write, the feeling that one can’t not write, is both a gift and a responsibility. It’s a driving force that can lead to the creation of beautiful, insightful, transformative works. But it can also be a demanding taskmaster, pushing writers to prioritize their craft even in the face of other life pressures. For those who experience this compulsion, writing isn’t just something they do—it’s an integral part of who they are. It’s a way of breathing, of being, of existing in the world. This speaks to the power of creative expression and the profound human need to make meaning out of the chaos of our existence.
Passing it On
I’ll be teaching an elective in creative writing to my middle schoolers this spring–nothing earth shattering. We’ll be exploring different genres of writing, using writing prompts, and working on developing compelling characters. And while the lessons I’ve planned will introduce them to many of the tools writers use, one of the implicit lessons I want them to learn is that stories are everywhere. Not only are they everywhere, but we have the privilege of telling those stories and crafting them in ways that are compelling and expressive.
In addition, some folks believe that their writing isn’t worth anything. Or, they believe that since they aren’t yet published, they aren’t writers. Some young people even hide their writing because Writing isn’t a cool hobby. Helping these young people see that they are writers is a responsibility we all share. If they “can’t not write,” let’s give them validation for picking up pen and paper.
Yes, everyone has a story to tell, and some of us have many more than one. And that’s why I write.
