I question myself and attempt to answer, article writing why do I write?

An article I read this very morning expounding the advantages of C.T.R.'s (Click through rates) got me thinking, why do I write articles? Is it for exposure, to sell something, to get people to read my articles, or is it just for enjoyment and achieving something?

I arrived at a conclusion, I write for various reasons. I have written over eighty articles, twelve different categories covered, thirty-three sub categories, expert status in one main-category and expert status in two sub-categories. What does all this mean to me? I have no idea, but what I can say, I have enjoyed writing each one of those articles.

Did I reach my goal? I never had one, I wanted to write for pleasure and relaxation. Did I do that? Yes, for sure. Have I learnt as I’ve gone along? Most definitely, I discovered within Street Articles there are fantastic authors, covering hundreds of subjects, with authority and expertness. Has my writing improved? I think so, as do my family, whither they are being polite or not, who cares, they're blowing enough wind up my …. to make me happy.

Do I follow other authors? Yes, some fantastic fellow writers, that stimulate the mind and add food for further articles. Do I comment on their articles? Yes, I think it is important to let them know how you feel about their article. It encourages others to write and reply to your comments, and hopefully to read and comment on mine. Have I built up followers since starting? Yes, forty-four of them to date and I follow fifty-one. Do I read all articles, notice of which emailed to me? Oh yes, every one, jump out of bed early every morning to start my day by reading and commenting. Some days writing till late at night because of the stimulation received from other articles, then I'm reading all day as an article published. Comment, answered within minutes sometimes, the time difference not an issue.

Do article read numbers bother me? I still have not reached a conclusion on that. What has been gob-smacking for me is the articles that I thought would receive more reads, didn’t, and those I wrote for fun and enjoyment, did. What has this taught me? Readers prefer it when I write from my heart and not my mind, many I write because they manifest themselves whilst sitting on the stoep/ veranda/ porch (don't know what to call it so that you all understand). Some develop as I sit in front of the computer and formed as I go along. Do I get pleasure when others comment on my articles? That is the reward, recognition, someone out there is reading my article. I'm convinced if five people read my article and all five commented, I would be just as happy as receiving a thousand reads but only two comments.

I started years ago writing a book, a specialist book, I sit now on 180 pages written and edited. Since starting to write on S.A. how many pages have I written? None, why you ask, because since starting here I have improved so much, that my book now looks to me like a total load.(you know what I mean) I have re-thought the idea, and now, instead of writing for a specialised field, I intend to rewrite using new learnt skills and appealing to a broad audience.

So I return to my original thought for this article, do I write for C.T.R.'s? I don’t think so, I write for pleasure and enjoyment, I write because I want to. If I get reads and comments I'm ecstatic, if I don’t it's time to reassess. I write about what ever enters my mind, and I see it as a learning curve. So those of you who aren't getting C.T.R.'s, assess if that is what you are writing for, if not enjoy yourself as I am.

To all and sundry, keep on writing, your articles enjoyed by someone, even if they don't comment.