ABSTRACT
We’ve discussed why we need stories, how they satisfy a biological imperative to learn about ourselves and our place in the universe through a shared emotional experience. But the question remains, why does a writer feel the need to TELL stories? Aristotle says it comes from the same motivation, the desire to learn and to feel, best accomplished through the dual process of observing and participating, activities provided not just by experiencing a story but also by creating one. He maintains the process itself creates a catharsis, one best accomplished if the writer has both talent and a strain of madness. In the end, what makes a successful writer is one who pursues their objective despite overwhelming obstacles, not unlike the hero of a good story.
