Let’s be honest, if Katie ‘Jordan’ Price can produce a publishable piece of written output, I guess it really is true that everyone has a book in them. Nowhere in that well known sentiment does it comment on the quality of that piece of work but I suppose that’s not the point.
So if everyone can do it, then the question remains, why do some rise to the task while others don’t? In our younger years, most likely the first bits of creative writing we embark upon will be set tasks given to us by tired English teachers with unironed shirts and bad haircuts. At least that’s my memory of things. Of course when we do something because we have to rather than choosing to, it becomes onerous; a form of work. When it comes to writing stories or essays, some will thoroughly enjoy the process and the spark will be ignited there and then. They begin to write in their spare time and may even forge careers as writers of some kind, able to enjoying what they create for a living.
What might be the motives for the average person to write a novel though? For my part, this was an interesting question to mull over because if someone were to ask me that out of the blue, I don’t think I would be able to answer it – at least not satisfactorily. Having now thought it over, I have broken it down into different aspects which may or may not apply to others but I suspect at least some or maybe even all will apply for most.
1 – An idea for a story that just needs telling – This is a fairly obvious one. If you have that sudden moment of inspiration and stumble across a unique and unbeatable format then there is almost a responsibility to get it done. As rare as that is, I suspect a lot of the best pieces of work have come about because they are simply too good not to have been followed through. A bit like Velcro (great invention).
2 – A creative distraction – This was a big factor for me due to my line of work. I work in the medical field and as such am surrounded by facts, figures and absolutes. A lot of the time, particularly in the beginning, it was a case of accumulating knowledge and being taught at 24/7. It follows that there was a part of me that wanted to explore my more creative side and I imagine it would be the same for someone who is punching figures in an office all day or trying to stay awake during droning presentations and arduous meetings. The freedom in creating something of your own, whether it be a piece of writing or a piece of music or a painting, is that it is yours to do with what you want. There is no part of it that must be learned or that must conform to a set curriculum. There is no one telling you what to do. You can simply get on with it without any supervision and see what happens.
3 – A way to explore your own thoughts and views – In the creative process of writing a novel or even an essay or a work of non-fiction, chances are it will be a solitary task; something you undertake without any other’s influence, at least directly. This is a fantastic opportunity to have a think about what your own views are on the greater topics at hand. Certainly during the writing of my novel, many a night has gone by contemplating topics ranging from the universe, human behaviour, mortality and happiness. Particularly during early adulthood, our long-term outlooks on life begin to properly develop but it is not until later that the dust starts to settle. Once we have a little experience behind us and have had a chance to think about what everything means, we can begin to get a grip on the world around us, thereby refining our personalities and producing something approaching a well balanced individual. Some are better at this than others. From her extensive biographical output alone, clearly Katie Price has her shit together. My point is this – having something to focus all of these thoughts on and actually getting something written is, I suspect, more useful than experience alone. If you are considering your opinion on something, whether it be science, religion, a certain branch of politics or whatever, thinking about it in isolation and writing it down is far more rewarding that simply following a chosen path set out for you and everyone else.
4 – A way to express yourself – With point number 3 in mind, perhaps you feel about something strongly but, until now, have no way to let anyone else know; no outlet. Maybe it’s frustration over a political frailty (and God knows there’s a lot of that around at the moment) or it could be more of an escapism; a chance to live vicariously through one of your characters or to let others into your imagination to view your dreams and desires. Some people are more shy than others and the medium of words is a brilliant way to show everyone what’s going on in that head without having to explain it to them face to face at some posh cocktail party. (I must stress I have never been to a proper one of these but am perpetually on the alert for the eventuality that such an invite comes through my letterbox).
5 – To influence the thoughts and thinking of others – A more forceful personality may want to take the above point a bit further. If one has a strong belief, they may try to ask others to consider their point of view and adopt it. Matters of conservation and human rights are examples of this. Things in which the collective actions of large numbers of people have real impacts on things around us can be influenced by various means. Film and TV are obvious illustrations here but the written word, whether it be fiction or non-fiction, also has the potential to galvanize a readership and rally people around a particular viewpoint. There are certainly enough satirical works of fiction out there that may well have been written directly to influence ways of thinking.
6 – Lifestyle of a writer – I will admit a lot of my motivation for starting a novel was the idea of the lifestyle. For me, there is an almost mystical draw to the process behind writing something and one of its draws involves the lack of any deadline but your own. (I never said my inspirations were necessarily grounded in reality!) As well, a large part has to do with the locations and surroundings involved. It is an activity quite unique in the sense that you can pick, within reason, where you want to do it. Personally, I always envisage a cosy country pub, ideally in autumn or winter with a nice view or a quiet corner somewhere busier where I can keep an eye on the world passing around me, whilst able to sink into my own little world for a time if needs be. Once you’re on a roll in this environment, it’s almost a meditative process; a way to relieve stress, particularly if you partake in work of a more hectic nature at other times.
7 – Sense of achievement – My final point is something I suspect that, even if we don’t admit it, all of us have to some degree in the backs of our minds. I would be lying if I said I don’t want any of my pieces of work to gain viral status and my novel to become some sort of runaway international best seller, forever on the all time classics lists. While that will probably (almost definitely) not happen, any sense of achievement in even finishing something like a novel is draw enough for many. It’s tough and involves unbelievable amounts of work. But the potential to have that physical copy of something created by you and you alone is something to savour. Something that, however small, will leave your own individual foot-print behind; that will potentially be there, at least for a while after you are gone. I like that idea most of all about creating anything – the chance to generate these ripples of yourself that are still spreading out even after your own story has ended.
