Reason to Write

I write to keep the characters in my head from driving me crazy.
                                                        - Alexandra A. Cheshire

This is what Lexa tells people when they ask why she writes. Apparently people look at her funny, but it isn't really that much different than the responses other writers give. Ask any writer why they write and they will have a different response... if they've ever actually stopped to think about why at all. For some of us, writing is kind of like breathing. We do it and we don't necessarily stop to think about why.
While so many people out there have thought about writing a book, they may never set pen to paper or fingers to keyboard. Just having a story in their head isn't sufficient motivation to actually write it out and share it with the world. There needs to be a deeper why, whether they can articulate it or not.