Recently I read a post on Fanstory by the author, Dawn Munro. The essay made me think. And that is an excellent quality I look for, in anything I choose to read. It encouraged me to think about why I write, and for whom.

There is a burning in my belly asking the hard questions. Am I satisfied with why I write anymore? Am I writing now for the same reasons as when I started to write? Good questions with no easy answers.

I started to write poetry when I was thirteen years old. In a manner of speaking, I haven’t stopped yet.

Last night, I got a call that awakened me to why I write.

At the beginning of my time on Fanstory, I posted some of my poems on the issue of homelessness how they feel, and what we can do to help them. At the time I was getting published weekly in a local newspaper called The Humboldt Edge.

Being published there, let me know I made a difference.

Yesterday evening, that same group that now calls themselves AHHA, which stands for Affordable Housing Homeless Alternatives, asked me to read my poetry to celebrate their ten year existence as a local advocacy group for the homeless and their allies.

Wow, what a wonderful feeling. To be asked to read my poetry from back in the years 2015 to 2019 is a thrill.

I then reflected on my early time on Fanstory, and how this same poetry was received. So many folks were less than impressed by my advocacy for the homeless. After a few unsavory reviews, I chose to write for Fanstory what they seemed to want to read instead.

Lately, I feel that most people on this site just want to know how I am doing rather than read what is meaningful to me.

Well, that is not the main reason why I write.

I write to make a difference, not to impress other writers. If no one wants to read what is important to me on this site, then why do I do it here?

Please, do some soul-searching and ask yourselves this important question.

Why do you write?

Think about it and share your thoughts.

You might be surprised what your answer will be.