Why I choose to write

I can't say for certain which of Orwell's four primary motives for writing apply to me the most. Being a cynic, I can't help but identify myself with sheer egoism. I have a dangerous level of self-confidence. While I don't usually think of myself as being above others in reality, I acknowledge that to myself I am essentially a god. I would never hesitate to hold open a door for someone, or help an old lady across the street (as the cliche example goes), but I believe that every person, myself included, should be at the center of their own respective universes. My acknowledgement of the fact that I'm far from the center of others' worlds sets me apart from the average person with a non-philosophical sense of self-importance.

When I write, it is usually because it's necessary work for a class that I'm taking. But when I'm seriously writing (with fervor, as in more than just for school) I am usually attempting to convey some sort of idea or knowledge to someone who I believe isn't knowledgeable on a subject. I only very rarely write argumentatively, most of the time my writing is meant to inform. I believe that when I give people my knowledge through writing, my ideals become more accessible, more feasible, or more true for them. To this end I essentially try to push myself towards the center of others' worlds via proxy. Everyone desires power and recognition, and I'm no exception to this. It's my cynical view of the human race that all motives are inherently selfish, ignoring the negative connotations associated with the word. Writing, being an expression of humanity, must therefore be purely selfish as well.