365 Days of Writing – Day 1

I prefer writing in Times New Roman, size 10. For some reason, that makes the words look more real and more legitimate to me, and I even seem to type a little faster when I’m working in Times New Roman.
Unfortunately, Word always seems to default to Calibri, which to me looks like a silly, childish font. A font for beginners who are looking for no feet for their words, no sharp edges to what is said. It also defaults to size 12, which amplifies that childish, simple effect.
I’ve been asked why I write. The exercise is simple. Why do I, Heide Brandes, write?
I’d like to say it’s because the thoughts and scenes and words burn in my brain, battling for an escape and that this ritual of writing is not only necessary, but undeniable. I’d like to say that I cannot not write, for writing is as much a part of me as breathing and sleeping and moving and making out.
I’d like to say that writing is a passion that scorches me from my heart to my hands, and that my life in words is more real than my real life.
Hate to disappoint, but none of that is true. I write because it’s easy. I write because it is one of the few things I do very, very well. I write to make money, I write to fill the time, I write to boost my own ravenous ego and I write because it’s what I’ve always done.
I started writing as soon as I started reading. Maybe I write because I love to read. That’s my true passion – reading and watching those realities unfold in my imagination like vivid, colorful movies. They say if you want to write well, then read well. Read beautiful stories and dark tales to bring out the rhythm of writing in your own self.
So, there it is. I’m a writer because I’m a reader, and I want to write as well as those I read. I daydream on a constant basis (although not as much as I used to when I was younger and still trusted the world). I daydream about love, about adventure, about conflict and war, about heroism and heroes, about travel and wild romps through unexplored jungles and lost cities, and I daydream about writing.
I’ve written down these daydreams, which become half-finished stories with so much promise. They are still half-finished, but they wait patiently for me to return, and I thank them for that.
I write because I live. Because I love the rhythm of words. I love poetry of Carl Sandburg, Sylvia Plath and Dylan Thomas because of those gentle rhythms, the way the words create imagery and emotion.
I write because sometimes I have nothing to say. I write to show others what I see.
I used to write creatively – I have notebooks and notebooks of poetry and prose from wine-filled youth angst and dark love affairs – but I became a journalist by trade. Most of my writing now is journalism. I’m venturing into the realm of the personal essay style of journalism, but few of the local magazines I write for use that format.
Still, I’m going to do it.
So this is my first of Heide’s 365 Days of Writing. I have no idea what I’ll be writing about, but I imagine it’ll be an eclectic mix of random verbal diarrhea, travel pieces, optimistic ramblings, angry venting, fun humorous quips and more…. Basically life.
So, there you have it. Why do I write? I write because I can. I write because it’s easy for me. I write because I can always write better.
I write.

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Tags: write, writing