Why do you blog (or write)?

If you have a blog or write in any capacity, I'm curious as to why you do it--especially if you have a daily, weekly, or other regular cadence for doing so. In an age where blogs seem to be last season's trend, I sometimes ask myself why I have this blog now and others are starting new blogs everyday. In a world where TikTok seems on the edge of becoming a has-been while seemingly dominating as "the app" of the day, everything feels like a semi-worthless trend that makes you question if there's really any value behind it.

Writing as a practice feels "productive," and is one of the primary reasons I like to do so. This feels partially motivated by internalized capitalism. On the other hand, given that my writing produces absolutely zero income or tangible value, maybe it's the feeling of creating something for its own sake that feels so good. Isn't that what art is? Something born out of creativity for the sole purpose of existing, to be viewed, interacted with, and interpreted by no one and everyone? Of course, I don't think of this blog as an art form, but there is a sense of honing my "artistic craft" just by coming here and writing. Maybe it feels like I'm refining my voice or putting in my 10,000 hours to become a true master.

With the recent craze of ChatGPT, there's been a lot of talk about the death of content creation, especially when it comes to writing since this is one of the things that ChatGPT is really good at. In a world where we can't tell if a poem is written by a computer or a human, is content created by humans automatically superior? Or, is it devalued since it can be done by a machine in a few seconds?

I will write a book someday. I would love to write a Korean essay collection, which seems to be a uniquely popular genre in Korea that does extremely well. Perhaps it's because of the structure and rhythm of the Korean language, that lends itself so well to the short essay form. During my sabbatical, these essays books have been my companion throughout my travels, a guide of sorts. These essays have helped me feel less lonely, reminded me of truths I had long forgotten, and eased the seriousness I often felt while lost. I hope to write a collection that offers solace to anyone who could use it.

If you're a writer, please share a few thoughts on why you write and what your writing goals include. How has your writing journey changed over time and what have you learned? Cheers to all the other writers out there--you are seen and beloved.