Why Do Writers Write: Dimino, Self-Expression and Communication

Inherent within the human heart and soul is the desire and the ability for self-expression, as well as the need to communicate that self-expression to others. That is why writers write. If that were not so, there would never have been any form of writing or communication of it by humankind.

This article will discuss how human self-expression and the communication of it with respect to other human beings first originated and then, developed further. It is communicated to others in a way that is demonstrable using a model referred to as the pebble effect.

Almost everyone loves to skim a pebble across the water. Now consider this as a form of self-expression or writing on the water. Then, take a pebble and toss it into a pool of water and watch the formation of a series of concentric rings, which radiate from the center.

Now consider this in terms of how writing began to be manifest to others, by individuals as a form of communication.

The desire to express ourselves, or self-expression, begins in the heart and soul, probably because God who is dwelling within us through his Holy Spirit, cannot be contained. This desire has to find some kind of self-expression leading to its outward expression.

Employing a model that demonstrates the pebble effect, self-expression begins with the individual. The initial or first point of impact happens when the pebble hits the water. Communication begins in the same way, as it spreads outward to like the concentric ripples that form on the water.

The first communication of self-expression would be with respect to another individual or a second person. The horizon of communication could be perceived as expanding to a couple, family, community, country, world, universe or even multiple universes. (It could also be applicable with respect to animals.)

The pebble effect model is a helpful tool with respect to comprehending human society and the interaction of people in respect to their communication. It is also useful in terms of perceiving what occurs with respect to the emergence of writing.

Look at the larger picture with respect to self-expression and its communication to others in terms of actual writing.

We are all familiar with the words wholistic or holistic. They do not require further definition. Taking each one of those words and expanding them further, or coining the words wholological and holological from them, one begins to see the picture as a greater whole.

Wholological would signify the science of the totality of the whole. Holological would signify the science of the sacred or holy part of the whole. Wholological would focus on the non-spiritual aspect of the whole and holological would designate the spiritual aspect of the whole.

Taking this further, consider the reality that we are seeking to be complete or whole in terms of healing, health, wholeness and happiness. This is an inherent need for human beings and a desire that always seeks to be fulfilled.

It is often said that "No man is an island."

How true this is. We are brought into this world in terms of community and seek to maintain that interaction and communication regardless of our circumstances or status in life. Even someone abandoned on an island, seeks to communicate in terms of writing in one form or another. No one  wants total isolation from all of the rest of the people in the world, even though we do value our personal privacy to some extent. Thus, we have an inherent need and a desire to communicate with others. Our self-expression would be meaningless in time, without someone else to share it with. The ultimate gratification in writing comes in sharing it with others.

From a wholological perspective, or taking a scientific approach to the whole of the emergence of writing from a non-spiritual direction, consider this possibility, using a newborn infant as an example. The infant is born with needs and desires for self-expression and communication. Initially, he or she learns how to express those needs and desires to his or her mother. How quickly he or she finds that some form of self-expression, directed toward the mother is either a rewarding, or a non-rewarding experience. It may also be a neutral experience in terms of not being either one or the other. As the infant becomes aware of having been or not having been rewarded, there is an increase in his or her personal knowledge and awareness, with respect to the positive, negative or neutral response of early attempts to communicate basic needs and desires. 

A child who is a bit older, quickly learns that playing with his or her food is one of many ways to communicate with a parent. Watch the patterns that a child makes, simply by playing with his or her food on a highchair tray. This could be a primitive, or early stage of writing or an attempt to write. Note that while there is the potential of a positive or negative re-enforcement from the parent, which either encourages or discourages the initial early attempts at writing, the child is aware of both the positive and the negative reaction, or lack of response, to what he or she is doing or has done, as well as some degree of awareness with respect to the reality that he or she is communicating in some manner with someone else.

Communication brings about the possibility of a response of pleasure or displeasure, or simply one of a non-response. Quietly watch a child moving food about on a tray. He or she may appear to be creating all kinds of different designs, which he or she seems to be pleased with. In some sense, these could be regarded as words. We are not always aware that this might be a primitive or early form of writing, as the child's way of communicating his or her self-expression.

Watch a child who is angry, frustrated or upset, as he or she strikes out at the cereal, baby food or whatever he or she is eating with displeasure, causing it to splash all over the tray or drop on the floor. What the child is communicating has a negative context in terms of what he or she has written this way. This give an opposite message, or one might suggest it has been written in a different context. A child, if taught and encouraged to do so will attempt to do some form of writing, but in terms of playing with sand, paint or finger painting. An older child learns to write in terms of actual words with crayons, pencils, paintbrushes and more acceptable writing tools.

The holological or scientific look at the sacred or holy aspect of self-expression and the communication thereof to others comes at a later date, perhaps to an older child or one who is in the early adult stage of development. Considering the whole picture, the self-expression and communication needs and desires are gradually expanded and expressed in terms of actual writing.

We do not know at what exact point actual writing as we comprehend it, actually emerges. It is probably at an earlier stage of development than we realize.

It is like writing diminoes in some way, going from what appeared to be non-existent to something that appears to be existent. Obviously, there is a pre-existent need and desire for self-expression that suddenly takes on a form of an existent stage which can be proven. The existence of the communication of self-expression to others, surfaces in terms of writing.

A dimino effect or an emergence with respect to writing, allows something to come into being and because it is legitimate, it will stand the test of time. This is opposed to a domino effect where something is dependent on something else. It topples as soon as what it is dependent upon falls over, a phenomenon commonly known as the domino effect. Each domino leans on the previous one. If and when the first one falls over for whatever reason, the rest of them will all fall down as well.

The dimino effect reveals that writing stands as an emergence of the communication of self-expression directed toward others.

Whether you are skimming pebbles across the water, or simply dropping pebbles into the water, consider the pebble effect, at least with respect to self-expression and the need or desire to communicate it to others, in terms of writing on the water.

Why writers write has to do with the inherent need of the individual for self-expression and communication. Self-expression emerges initially and then leads to successful or unsuccessful attempts at communication.