The impulse to write things down is a peculiarly compulsive one, inexplicable to those who do not share it, useful only accidentally, only secondarily, in the way that any compulsion tries to justify itself. I suppose that it begins or does not begin in the cradle.

Joan Didion
About This Quote

In his essay "On Writing," Ernest Hemingway explains that the desire to write is a compulsion. This characteristic can also be seen in other forms of art. Artists do not always admit to the compulsion they have, but some do. For example, a musician may say that he feels a compulsion to play music.

He may even claim that this compulsion is the driving force behind his success. Sometimes it can be easy to believe that artists are motivated by their need to create something. However, many great artists have admitted that they began their careers because they felt it was their calling, not because they needed money or fame.

In fact, Hemingway admits that the compulsion leads him to make mistakes and create things he does not believe in simply because he must finish them so he can move on to his next project.

Source: Slouching Towards Bethlehem

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