Why Do We Write?

Writers are often told, “Write what you know.” But the truth is, we often come to know ourselves through what we write. Writing isn’t just about expressing what’s already clear to us—it’s a way of uncovering the hidden layers of who we are.

George R.R. Martin once said, “If you need security, this is not the profession for you.” If you're doing it to make money, or to be famous, there are easier ways. Writing is a risk—in more ways than one—a leap into the unknown. We don’t write because it’s safe; we write because we can’t not write. It’s an act of honest expression, a way of saying, “This is what I stand for. This is who I am.” But it’s also a way of questioning, “Who am I?” and finding the answer through your dialogue with the page.

Bruce Lee described martial arts as a means of honestly expressing oneself—of putting your intent into the world through movement. Writing works in a similar way, albeit with words: it allows us to share ourselves with others, to foster connection and empathy. In both cases, self-expression is an act of self-revelation—it allows us to articulate and understand our limitations and identities. In the process, we come face-to-face with our fallibility. And when we embrace that, we begin to forgive—not just others, but ourselves.

The beauty of writing is that the page is always there to listen. It’s a confessional, a space where we can say the things we’re not ready to say out loud. You don’t have to share everything you write, but when you’re a writer, you feel compelled to share everything with the page. The act of writing itself becomes a dialogue with yourself, a place to confront your truth and find clarity.

So why do we write? Because the act of putting words on the page brings order to chaos. It transforms vague thoughts into defined truths and helps us make sense of our imperfections. Writing begins as “write what you know,” but it ends with “know what you write.”

Javier

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