Why I write stories

Every storyteller has a story (or a few thousand).  But one of those stories is the most important story.  It is the story called "Why I write stories".

I write stories because life is a lonely place sometimes, and stories are our friends when we are lonely.

I write stories because sometimes hope is hard to hold on to, and stories of hope can restore our ability to hope.

I write stories because the world is scary, and it is good to know that there are still dragon slayers, protectors, and magicians.

I write stories because my life has not been ordinary, or orderly all the time, and by telling myself stories where I found my way to a better life helped me make that better life.

I write stories because I believe the world needs stories to see that everything that is can be different, and that sometimes if we try hard enough we can make things better.

I write stories because if I can give one person a smile, or a warm piece of comfort, or a glimmer of hope; my life has purpose.

I write stories because I'm not me when I don't.