Why I Write

When I became a mother, I decided I wanted to write a novel. Perhaps it was inevitable that I would become a writer given that I was falling in love with words my whole life, or it could have been just because of the time I had in-between play and feeding while my baby napped. But there’s no way of knowing, and that doesn’t matter. The point is that I had an idea and I wanted to give novel writing a go. And that gave me something that was just for me. A special challenge that reminded me that I was more than a mother. 

Over ten years on, writing has become a big part of who I am. From the girl who wanted to be Jana Wendt, to the teenager who kept a diary, now I’m a mother who is chasing big dreams. And there is no denying that writing makes me happy.

It all started with books. A love of novels like Alice in Wonderland and The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe. Stories like The Yellow Ribbon, The Paw Thing and Point Horror. A fascination with on-screen dramas and domestic suspense. Then came Twilight, The Bride Stripped Bare, and Sharp Objects. All inspiring, moulding me as a writer.

Just like the night terrors, I suffered from as a child that inspire me now. It is a blessing to have such a vivid imagination.

And when life gets hard, writing is like therapy. I can pour words onto a page and feel lighter. It’s an expression of my hopes and dreams that take on a life of their own. 

My vulnerability on the page makes me feel exposed. But when I open myself to outside critique, I realise that this is what makes good writing. 

Writing is not just for me, it’s the example I’m setting for my children, the ambition it provides for my soul, and the collaboration it brings with my husband. 

With the support of not only my husband and children, family and friends, critique partners and mentors; I write because the best way I can express myself is through the written word.

Kelly