Why Do We Write?为什么我们要写作？

Joe Bunting

It’s safe to say there are more writers now than at any other time in history.

Seriously though， why do we write？ How does writing make a positivedifference in our own life， and in the lives of those around us？

To Make a Name for Ourselves

We’re still talking about many writers long after their deaths. Writing lets usmake a mark on the present world and future generations if writers have the courageto print their stories on paper， and then pass it on to a reader. And， with some luck，that readers passes that story on to another reader， who passes it on again.

To Change the World

Humans want to bring new things to life， to mold1 things into the image wehave in our imaginations. Writing gives us a chance. We write not just to changethe world， but to create a new world. Every day， when you put your fingers to thekeys， you’re creating something. And then， with the click of button， you can shareit with the world.

To Discover Meaning

Writers are uniquely2 gifted to find meaning for themselves and to help othersfind meaning. In fact， this has always been the main task of storytellers. Every storymatters to the person living it， and writers’job is to tell the universal3 stories， thestories that reveal4 the story of every person on the earth. We write to bringmeaning to the world. You never know whose life your story could change. That’swhy， deep down， we should understand that it’s important to not only start butfinish what we write.

We all have stories to tell. Why not write your stories down for us？

可以肯定地說，现在的作家比历史上任何时候都多。

说真的，我们为什么要写作？写作是如何对我们自己和周围人的生活产生积极影响的？

为自己扬名

在许多作家去世很久之后，我们仍在谈论他们。如果作者有勇气把他们的故事印在纸上，然后传递给读者，那写作就可以让我们给当今世界和子孙后代留下印记。并且，运气好的话，读者会把这个故事传给另一位读者，后者会再次把它传下去。

改变世界

人类希望赋予新事物生命，把事物塑造成我们想象中的形象。写作给了我们一个机会。我们写作不仅是为了改变世界，也是为了创造一个新世界。每天，当你用手指敲击键盘时，你就在创造一些东西。然后，只需点击按钮，你就可以与世界分享它。

发现意义

作家具有独特的天赋，能够为自己找到意义，并帮助他人找到意义。事实上，这一直是讲故事的人的主要任务。每个故事对生活在其中的人来说都很重要，作家的工作是讲述普遍的故事，这些故事揭示了地球上每个人的故事。我们写作是为了给世界带来意义。你永远不知道你的故事会改变谁的生活。这就是为什么，在内心深处，我们应该明白，重要的是不仅要开始写，还要完成我们所写的东西。

我们都有故事要讲。为什么不为我们写下你的故事呢？

Notes

1. mold 将……塑造成

2. uniquely 独特地

3. universal 普遍的，全体的

4. reveal 揭示，透露