the purpose of writing

In my English class the other day, as a part of our Series of Stupid Grammar Lessons That You Can Pretty Much Figure Out With A Little Common Sense, we were discussing the Author's Purpose (sorry for all the caps. Just stylistic). My teacher, speaking with some authority, said, "Authors always have a purpose in their writing. They don't just sit down and write for the sake of writing."

And I thought, "Oh, CRAP. They don't? Er, WE don't?"

Because, yes, if I'm working on a story I have a purpose, sure. I'm trying to tell a story! But sometimes, if I haven't written in a while, my fingers get a stiff and a little grumpy and refuse to cooperate with my head anymore so I open a notebook and uncap a pen and write. Just for the sake of writing. Just because it feels nice and soothing and comforting. Writing is my comfort food.

Back to the class, though.

Classmate 51, bless his perverted little soul, raises his hand and says, "My sister does."

"No," the teacher said. "She writes to tell a story or to convince somebody of something."

But for once, I think I was more on the same wavelength with Classmate 51 than I was with my teacher. Sure, I have a purpose if I'm working on a story. But there are also times that I write for no reason other than the pure pleasure of it.

I guess I can afford to cut my teacher some slack, though. She is many good things, but definitely not a creative writer in any sense of the phrase.

Katie

P.S. If you, dear reader, write, do you ever just write for the heck of it, or do you think you usually have a purpose?

yummy Japanese food and storywork

Let's start with the yummy Japanese food.

What is it, you ask? See the photo. The can looks like it SHOULD be orange juice, but it's actually kind of like that orange McDonald's drink. Which I like, so....yeah. Am not sure what the apple version of this canned "orange juice" will be like. Hm.

The other thing is little salty rice crackers with frosting on them, and they are absolutely delicious.

As to the storywork: Those of you who attend the Portales writers' group may remember a character I created at the last meeting named Orchid Rae. Her story is now unfolding at a wonderful rate, so I have something to work on over the weekend!

Katie

P.S. Thanks for the comments and the follows!