… and the question is what do we do with the site. I’m posting my own WWW tomorrow – don’t look for anything as eloquent as what you got today from Thania – but then what? Leave comments on this post if you have any brilliant ideas; all I know is we’re going to be too busy to keep things up at this pace! We have an nice community here, and I’d hate to lose it.
February 12, 2008
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Why We Write 
As a person who wishes they were a paid writer, it has been great to read that the pro’s have the same insecurities and needs that I do. I’d like to see the blog continue. Maybe once a week?
Comment by Heather — February 12, 2008 @ 7:02 pm |
I love this site, and if you continue, I will still read them all!
Comment by Emily — February 12, 2008 @ 7:29 pm |
I also love the site and would still read if you choose to continue.
Comment by Beth — February 12, 2008 @ 8:10 pm |
This site is fantastic, and I agree with everyone that it would be great if it could continue in some way. These essays are a great source of inspiration.
Comment by Stephanie — February 12, 2008 @ 8:20 pm |
I’ve really come to enjoy my daily look at the site, learning about the writer’s thoughts and feelings. As another inspiring writer, it’s been a real pleasure. My favorite was definitely bill Lawrence’s, absolutely hysterical! Since you’ll most likely be too busy for one every day, maybe it can be changed to once a week? It’d be a shame for this to end, it’s a really great idea that I’d hate to see go.
Comment by Jamiesen — February 12, 2008 @ 8:32 pm |
“Why We Write” has given me the motivation to continue pursuing a career in writing. Sitting in a crappy, low-paying office job in a snow-covered city far away from the Hollywood Hills, I read essays that foster a sense of community and kinship with other writers, and that provide me with the reassurance that it IS possible to do this for a living. This blog is way more than merely rallying writers in the interest of a single cause, but of celebrating a form of expression that is devalued not just by studio heads, but by much of the population. Why be a writer when you can choose a more lucrative career path like that of a lawyer, doctor, or accountant? Maybe because the world still needs stories, and there are those us who continue to dream.
I do hope this site continues, but I recognize that this may not be a possibility. May I suggest collecting these essays into a book?
Comment by JP — February 12, 2008 @ 8:46 pm |
Do you have to do much maintenance, like post the articles yourselves? Why not just leave the site up and let writers contribute as they may, even after the strike ends?
Word will grow about a site that has pages every now and again by real TV writers working full time. And you’d keep public awareness on the value of writers, instead of you being forgotten again–once regularly scheduled programming returns–until the next strike.
Your stories have been very inspiring/revealing and probably will remain so. Probably they’d get even MORE inspiring and creative if you crazily dashed them out while doing your insane day jobs.
Comment by Mark — February 12, 2008 @ 9:56 pm |
As a student in television writing, this blog has been such an amazing source of inspiration and the source of a few discussions in the classroom. I hope you do decide to continue to run it in some way, even if it’s only a weekly or bi-weekly update. I’d make sure to stop in and read the latest!
Comment by Sarah — February 12, 2008 @ 10:42 pm |
I’d be willing to devote a few hours per week to keep things going. I’m not a writer, but I’d probably make a pretty good intermediary.
For instance, I could make sure the submissions meet a certain level before passing them on, and then, after they are approved by the actual editors, I can post them.
I also have several ideas for themed or feature series that would be good for the site too.
Comment by Grant — February 13, 2008 @ 12:47 am |
Please continue in whatever form is possible. Reading posts once a day has been wonderful, but I will continue to visit no matter how often you’re able to post.
Comment by Maggie — February 13, 2008 @ 6:37 am |
It would be such a shame to stop the blog now; there hasn’t been anything like this before. I love reading all the different types of essays and hope it will continue in one form or another.
Comment by Melinda — February 13, 2008 @ 8:07 am |
I don’t think you want to lose the momentum and idea of this blog just because the strike is over. It’s just as important to remember why you write when you have a contract as it is when you don’t. Because 3 years from now, when renewal is up, wouldn’t it be nice to have some archives to look back on? Even if they are only once a month, once a week, whatever.
Comment by Noelle — February 13, 2008 @ 8:11 am |
Thank You for creating this site in the first place. The simple idea of having one place for writers to place their thoughts is brilliant. Reading the many postings has awakened my passion for story telling. I can only hope you continue running this site so many more writers, both known and unknown, get a chance to tell why they write, why they make us laugh and cry, and why they feel the need to create. Looking forward to reading many more experiences.
Comment by Ed — February 13, 2008 @ 8:52 am |
Congratulations to the WGA! I would love to see this site stick around, especially since people are going back to their craft as a day job. Perhaps the inspiration to write the essays will be different, but the results will surely be just as joyus.
This blog is kind of like, the closest thing writers get to a little secret society. Maybe you can issue decoder rings to get in now, but please don’t end it!
Comment by Lisa Angelo — February 13, 2008 @ 12:25 pm |
I decided that I would be the voice of the “younger generation” (the younger generation being the teenagers, since I’m 16). I have read all the essays on this site and they have really inspired me to follow my dreams (but to always keep options open while your following them so that you can live comfortably) and to listen to the voices in my head (not the crazy ones but the ones that tell you how to write). Believe it or not, I’ve sort of been on a strike too. No really, I have. It was voluntary at first because I totally didn’t watch the shows online and only watched them on TV (I didn’t realize that you guys weren’t getting paid for them, but when I did, I totally supported you guys by not watching online) but then, it became mandatory. Yeah, that’s right. I got grounded in January (meaning NO TV). But it was ok. Because you guys were on strike and therefore I didn’t need to worry that I was missing my shows. But now, yeah, I’m kind of sad because I’m still grounded and I can’t watch the new shows. But you know what? I’m going to work hard so that I cannot be grounded so that then I can watch all the new awesome shows that you write! I absolutely love learning about these character’s lives and I’m itching to know what’s been going on in their lives for the past three months. Yes I know that these characters are fictional but I also know that in the mind of the writers who created them they are real. I am constantly quoting some of my favorite sayings from shows…meaning I’m quoting YOU writers.
You guys are great motivation and even if you don’t continue the site I thought I’d take advantage that people still read this and let you all know what you do for people because I’ve realized though reading these letters that you like making people laugh and connecting though them through these shows. I am a huge fan of the awards shows and I support the wonderful actors, caterers, directors, makeup artists, composers, costume crew, janitors, tech crew, AND the writers because I know that you love what you do (if you didn’t you wouldn’t be doing it everyday). I think that this site could kind of be an insight to prospective writers, sort of like when you shadow someone while you’re in school to decide if you like the lifestyle that the job you want provides, but online. Writers could write about the raw realities of being a writer. Also, these essays are kind of like the “Diary of Anne Frank” of the Writer’s Strike. I think we all realize that the Writer’s Strike has made history and having these essays to document it in a real raw way is, quite frankly… pretty cool. Even if you don’t continue the site I think it might be cool to take all the essays, plus the really good comments, because I’ve read some really good ones, and publish them in a book for keep sake purposes (like: Why We Write: The 2007-2008 Writer’s Strike) and then sell them (‘cause I know people would buy them).
So now I have to go back to doing my homework and writing about the Industrial Revolution but hey, just know that you’ve touched my life and I’m still writing, even if it’s just about the factories way back when or the short story for my English class…even though I do sometimes find my self writing songs and poems and insane diary entries. So once again, thanks for touching my life.
Monica
Comment by Monica — February 14, 2008 @ 9:06 am |
sorry about any typos above. I really should have proof read it or at least had my editors read it first. 🙂
Comment by Monica — February 14, 2008 @ 9:10 am |
I too wanted to say how much I have appreciated this blog. Continue if you can and want to, but either way it’s been great reading your stories and getting to know you.
Comment by babelsbibliotek — February 14, 2008 @ 12:30 pm |
Has anyone thought of turning the why we Write essays into a publication through the Guild? With photographs of the different writers with different backgrounds, etc? I think it’d be a pretty nifty morale-building publication, and lord knows they certainly make less useful publications there.
Comment by MOP — February 14, 2008 @ 4:00 pm |
My vote is that this site should continue and expand…
Jerry
Comment by Jerry Monaco — February 15, 2008 @ 9:16 am |
You have to continue. Why We Write is the only internet addiction I have left. It’s a “fix” in the most positive sense of the word. Even if you published it in book form and didn’t contribute the proceeds to a charity, I’d buy many a copy.
Comment by skyeknightdent — February 17, 2008 @ 8:40 am |
I enjoyed reading this site. The whole part about those who “gotta write” was just great!
Comment by Darlene Duzl — January 27, 2009 @ 3:21 pm |