I like to write. I like to write a lot. Generally, I don't do enough writing (or at least coherent writing) to give anyone, including myself, this impression, but seriously, I love writing. Recently, I've become somewhat better at making myself jot down SOMETHING at least once a day, even if I'm still not putting as much work as needed into my, ahem, 'novels'.

Writing is, for me, the very essence of artistic communication. As often as not, artistic fields like painting or poetry or music seem designed to allow, even encourage, the viewer to engage the work on an entirely internal level, as in, each person, from the creator to the critic to the high school class visiting the museum reacts on an entirely personal level to the artwork, and part of the 'art', part of the creation is this this reinterpretation.

Writing, prose, literature, even playwriting and scripting, isn't quite like that. While it allows a degree of interpretation on the part of the viewer, a lot of writing is internal only on the part of the creator, a more direct attempt to express and communicate particular notions and ideas. The difference might be between sharing an experience and sharing a part of self, not that one or the other is 'superior', but I feel that most prose writing differs from other artistic expression in the amount of the artist that is retained and imposed upon the viewer.

When I write, I feel like I could, finally, manage to really communicate with someone else, really stand a chance of getting them to actually understand some facet of my character. When I paint, or play music, I generally feel as though these people are merely interacting with the art, and I, as the creator, am no longer relevant to the interaction. It's like bringing a date to a party, introducing her to someone and then watching as they leave to go chat and who knows what else in some back room, leaving you alone, holding your drink.