Why do you write?

My sister asked me this on FB, and instead of adding it to the Q&A last week, I decided to write a whole post on it. Why do I write? That might be close to asking me why I breath... or why I talk... or something unavoidable and necessary. You might think talking isn't necessary and could be avoidable, but you would be wrong. Very wrong. ;-)

I can't remember not writing. My earliest memory of writing "books" was in second grade, when I wrote about premature babies and fun, lighthearted things like that. (I'm not even kidding. I have the notebook complete with the to-scale drawing of the preemie in it.) But, I'm sure I was telling stories even before I could finally write them down. They have always been a part of my life. There may be times when I don't get any ideas for a couple of months (or longer), and there are times when I have three ideas going at once. Sometimes something in my life triggers an idea, sometimes a character shows up in my mind and I just have to figure out what her (or his) story is. That was the case with my book that got my agent. Ethnie just showed up in my mind, when I was minding my own business working on a different book. A book that I love and adore and hope will someday see the light of day. Or a shelf. Or whatever. But that's another story. So, there I am sitting at my computer, revising YET AGAIN, and whammo! Here shows up Ethnie, with a story that was so intriguing and shocking I couldn't resist her. I hope at least one editor will agree, and that someday soon many people will get to find out what her story is.

So, for me, writing is just a part of who I am. It's my love, my passion, and my work. (I do have other loves, passions, and works though--which is good for my hubby, kids, and my sanity. I firmly believe as an author you must still LIVE life, if you want to write great stories. Yet again, that's another post altogether.)

So here's my question: why do YOU write? Or why haven't you started yet, if you want to? Or why do you read, if you don't write? In one way or another, writing and books are a huge part of most people's lives.

**And don't forget to enter the contest to win Stephenie Meyer's THE SHORT SECOND LIFE OF BREE TANNER - the contest closes at 11:59 pm MST on Sunday. :-) **