A Nobel Prize–Winning Writer Made Me Ask Why I Write

Today I found a short version of Orhan Pamuk’s Nobel acceptance speech. His words about why he writes inspired me to write my own reply. Here’s why I write. I write because I want to be sane. I write because I don’t want to burn out again. I write because I want to bring order to my mind. I write because I enjoy being alone with my thoughts. I write because I like to be in the zone. I write because I want to get better at it. * * * I write because sometimes I can’t be quiet. I write because other times I want to stop talking. * * * I write because I want to share my life’s lessons. I write because I want to help and inspire. I write because people already ask me about my first books. * * * I write because I want my future kids to read my books. I write because one day I’d like to see my books in bookstores. I write because one day I’d like to be someone’s favorite writer. * * * And finally… I write because I don’t want to go back to a 9-to-5 again.