A Reason to Write.

I remember when I was at Uni we were asked why do you write?  This was a question we were often asked by visiting lecturers. Each time I tried to improve my answer to this question as I was also growing and discovering all the reasons why I loved to write…

One seminar our visiting lecturer, in his crisp clean white shirt, asked us this very same question. Why do you write? This time I thought about it. Like I really thought about it, so when it was my time to answer I said; I like to write because I would like to bring some positive change, or add/give something positive to the world.

All our answers were being scribbled across the white board as we went around the room; it makes me happy, I love telling stories, I like playing God (this last reason was a popular choice).Once we had all given our motives the lecturer took a step back from the board and skimmed through the list. Once he had finished, he popped the lid back on the marker and turned around to face the class. Who said something about writing to bring something positive to the world?

I smiled and raised my hand, me.

I revised my answer in my head and thought about my hopes and dreams of one day being a positive inspiration. Then I started to dream of how, if I were recognised one day in the near future, that I would love my stories to live on positively even after I have gone.

Hmm…he said with his face scrunched up like a piece of paper.

He repeated my reason for writing very quickly and compared it to some literature and then a handful of writers who managed to accomplish this and then finally took a breath of air. But really, this isn’t a REAL reason to write. He uncrossed his arms and erased my answer from the board. That was it. Gone.

My purpose stood tall and proud alongside the crowd of reasons to write and then suddenly it was swept away by the waves of unacceptance. The lecturer continued to pick out other reasons from the long list on the board and agreed with these motives for writing. I couldn’t hear him clearly as I was still listening to the waves, they had drawn in closer now and I was questioning whether my reason to write was, well, real?

Despite the invisibility of my motive to write I continued to believe in my passion for it. I had faith that if I stayed true to my purpose of writing that it will outshine the disagreements.

This was a memory I had forgotten about, it had been washed away with time, but then why am I discussing it today? Currently, I am reading Ed Catmull (with Amy Wallace), Creativity,  Inc. I am enjoying the journey of an inspirational man and company who were driven by their dreams and their futuristic ambitions.

I can reveal that it is this book that jogged my memory of that particular seminar at University. In fact it was the following line that triggered this blog post:

“My hope was to make this culture so vigorous that it would survive when Pixar’s founding members were long gone, enabling the company to continue producing original films that made money, yes, but also contributed positively to the world.” Creativity, Inc.

Reading this line made me smile because it reassured me that whatever my, or your reason to write is, no one will be able to stop you. If you are on a train with a ticket you’ve worked hard for and a head full of clear, focused and positive thoughts, then surely you will reach your destination. Thanks Ed for the reminder.