This post was written by Heather Rae.  Follow me on Twitter or Facebook.

A few days ago, I had a conversation with a friend.  While walking on the beach, we talked about the randomness that is life.  And somehow we moved to the topic of my writing.  First, we discussed what type of book I want to write next (as most of you know, my current obsession is young adult fiction), and then we started talking about my blog.  I mentioned to him how I found it odd that I’m such an intensely private person in real life, but I’m not afraid (well, okay, sometimes I’m afraid) to release  my most personal thoughts to the internet.

And that got me thinking.  Why do I write?  What draws me to post my raw emotion for all to see?  Why am I drawn to write stories (hence the novels) to share with the world?

I hadn’t really thought of my writing in this way before.  Not that much thought went into it, but when I did consider why I wanted to be an author, I sort of figured it was because I was pretty good, it was something that interested me, and it gave me an opportunity for lifelong learning.  That seemed like enough of a reason.

But I’m starting to realize it’s much deeper than that.  I mean, yes, all those things are true.  But deep down, what draws me to allow my thoughts to fill the page?

I read a post on Kate’s Book Blog the other day, and she said, “I think I write because I’m a story-teller at heart.”  I thought about this.  Do I write because I’m a story-teller?  Do I simply love sharing stories with the world?

Well, yes and no.  Obviously I want to share my stories.  But, again, I don’t think this is my reason for writing.

C.S. Lewis once said, “We read to know we’re not alone.” I think this is my answer.

I write to know I’m not alone. That may sound odd at first.  Writing something down doesn’t give my feelings or thoughts validation — it doesn’t literally do anything other than to give something tangible, like words, to my emotions, thoughts and ideas.

But think of it this way.  On my blog, when I take a chance and write my innermost feelings, when I allow myself to be completely vulnerable, that’s when I get the most comments, the most emails, the most feedback.  Readers will often thank me for posting those most sensitive posts, for being brave enough to give words to what they, too, were feeling.

And writing novels?  Well, that’s just another way to share my thoughts, my feelings, my fears and my dreams.  Most novelists have heard the saying, write what you know.  And although our books are fiction and conjure up fantasy worlds and outrageous plots and hyperbolic characters, in the end, what we’re really doing is writing what we know.  The situations and circumstances might be complete and utter fiction, but the characters and the feelings and the sorrow and the triumphs — those are all emotions we know.  Those are the emotions that leave us vulnerable on the page, that require our honesty, that require us to expose our innermost thoughts.  These are the thoughts that allow others to feel they’re not alone, the thoughts that allow them to connect with me and my innermost world.

And that is why I write.  I write to know I’m not alone.

I think writing is a personal journey for each of us.  Each has different reasons for putting pen to paper, and perhaps, even different reasons for then sharing those words with the world.  Have you ever thought about your own journey as a writer?  Why do you write?

photo credit: Yuliya Libkina