Why Do People Choose to Write?

为什么我们要写作？

In the Internet era, writing becomes so normal and common. Everyone could leave comment, write short passages, post long articles or novels and enjoy more interactions with their readers. So what is the purpose for people to write?

网络时代，写作成为一件触手可及的事情，人人都可以写评论，写短文，发表小说，同时接受读者的点赞或者关注。那么为什么人们要写作？

Some people have a very clear purpose. They write articles to attract reading and then earn revenue. The higher the reading amount is, the more possible for them to attract advertisement and sponsorship. Economically they are correct, because many Internet articles are simply evaluated by the amount of reading, Likes or Followers, which has higher priority than the quality of the articles. If they successfully attract your eyeballs, they do not need to think much about the real facts, argument accuracy or originality.

有些人的写作有明确的目的。他们写作是为了获取关注。阅读量和关注度越高，广告商和约稿越是纷至沓来产生收入源。仅从经济收入考虑，此目的无可厚非，因为网络文字的评判标准严重向阅读量、点赞数以及关注度倾斜。如果他们成功吸引了广大读者的眼球，文章真实、论据充分，观点新颖反倒成了次要的目标。

However, I will admit many people write for a pure purpose: express themselves. Maybe someday they think out a great idea, have unique opinion about the world and society, figure out the plot of an exquisite story, there is strong requirement to record them down. They do not care too much about the responses of other people, but just honestly catch the flowing inspiration as a ritual to respect the life and time. When they are writing, they use the most comfortable ways for themselves, just like sipping coffee lonely but peacefully by themselves.

For them, the motto will be like “let writing be the writing itself”.

但是大多数人的写作目的就是那么纯粹：表达自我。也许某日他们想出一个绝佳的主意、产生一个关于世界或者社会的独特见解、灵机一动想出一个精妙的故事情节，都会催生他们将其记录在案的强烈冲动。当时当地，他们并不介意他人的反应，而只是诚实的抓住那个灵感迸发的瞬间，作为他们对时光和人类生活的憧憬仪式。当他们写作时，采用最舒服的表达方式，犹如小口品尝一杯孤独而迷人的午后咖啡。对他们来说，写作的箴言可谓是“让写作成为写作本身”。

No matter which way to go, enjoy the writing and choose the way you are comfortable with.

无论采用何种方式，享受写作的乐趣就好，毕竟，这是人类区别于动物的一大特征。