Do we write to express, or to be heard? > Likes and Comments

Can you write something knowing that no one will read it?

Krasi wrote: '' Can you write something knowing that no one will read it? ''

Hi Krasi,

I think this is a classic question: “Is art created for society or for art’s sake?” I have always sided with the view of art for art’s sake. However, some realities cannot be ignored: if an author’s goal is to reach a wide audience, it becomes almost inevitable to craft a work that blends their personal and original approach with themes and styles that appeal to society. On the other hand, if the author’s aim is truly to express their original perspective and write in their own style without worrying about what readers might think, that is when real creativity emerges, in my opinion.

Mehmet

That's such an amazing question, made me pause to think... Well, i think Writing to Express is inward. It's quite intimate and form of self-therapy. It's not about the world, it's the writer's own clarity and healing meanwhile Writing to be Heard is outward. It tied to the desire for recognition, approval or impact - chasing success and so on. So yeah...intention behind the writing changes the energy of writing.

Krasi, to answer your question... here's my experience.
When I was young, I wrote for myself. Writing helped me like a form of therapy, not because I wanted to be heard. It literally saved me.
Then, after a long break of almost thirty years, I started again. At first, I wanted to be listened to and recognized. But over time, I realized it doesn't really matter if anyone reads what I write. Until recently, I even wrote books that didn't represent who I am, maybe searching for something outside myself.
But in the end, I understood that even just one person reading your story, listening to what you have to say, is enough. Because it means you exist.

I’m closer to Mehmet’s perspective.
For me, writing always starts from something personal.
But if you want it to reach someone, you have to be aware of the reader too.
Not to please them. Just not to lose them.
I try to keep what matters raw, and shape the rest so it can actually land.
And I see a clear difference in my own work.
With my novels, it’s very personal first, then shaped for the right reader.
But the books I write as a dentist are a different thing.
Those are written for the reader from the start — they need to be clear and useful.
Two very different intentions.

Thank you, Mehmet! I really resonate with the idea “Is art created for society or for art’s sake?” — I believe true Harmony is born right there. Glad we’re on the same wavelength. :)

Bel, I love how you divided it into inward and outward. It reminded me of Yin and Yang. :) Thank you for putting it so beautifully!

Cynthia, your story really touches me. Especially the words “even one person — and you already exist.” I had a similar experience, only mine is connected with drawing. :) Thank you for sharing, it means a lot to me.

Claire, I completely agree: to each their own. You expressed it very accurately and honestly. Thank you!

Great question Krasi!

I believe I write to both express and to be heard, quite literally actually: only last month, I released my personal memoir to finally end the silence and shame that had been attached to my story for nearly thirty years.

Interestingly, I also shared my thoughts on my blog this morning, about why I enjoy writing reviews so much. I think it's relevant here, in regards to your question, and I'd like share it if I may...

'...I've been thinking a lot recently, about why I enjoy writing reviews so much, and I realise it's something I want to clarify - both for myself and for anyone who reads what I share.

My reviews are, first and foremost, for me.

They are a way to capture how something made me feel in a specific moment. What resonated, what didn't, what lingered after I turned the last page, any messages of meaning or questions of curiosity...

I'm not a literary agent. I'm not an academic. I don't approach books with a critical framework or professional obligation. I'm not here to define what is objectively 'good' or 'bad', nor to place works within a broader canon or tradition. There are people far more qualified to do that, and I deeply respect their work.

What I offer instead is something simpler and, I hope, more relatable: honesty.

When I rate a book, it's not a universal judgement, it's a reflection of my connection to it's content. The book I believe is 'outstanding' may very well be full of typos, just as the book 'everyone's raving about' may be completely lost on me. So, a five-star read for me might not be for you, and that's exactly the point. Reading is personal. Taste is personal. And I believe there's value in embracing that subjectivity rather than pretending it doesn't exist

Sharing my reviews is just an extension of that personal practice. If someone finds them helpful, that's wonderful. If they spark curiosity or conversation, even better. But they're not written to guide the market or influence trends, they're written to document my own journey as a reader, as well as a writer.

In the end, my reviews are less about telling others what to think, and more about understanding what I think, and why.

And that, for me, is reason enough to keep writing as I find the joy in reading again...'

kindest regards Zoë

Thank you, Zoë! I completely share your point of view. I especially liked how you said: “They are a way to capture how something made me feel in a specific moment.”

Thank you for sharing your experience.