I have proposed to address this question to the blogging community at large. The reason for keeping the title in interrogative form is also the same. I intend raising more questions and answers are likely to vary according to the individual blogger’s perception.

The internet might be 25 years old (I am not too sure whether one can pinpoint from when the widespread usage is on).Bloggers forum like Sulekha have now be there for 10 years.

Creative writers like me, prior to the availability of these kind of arrangement (of free, freelance writing) were a marginalized lot. One out of 10 letters, that you write to the Editor of a newspaper, stood a chance of getting published. As regards other topics the chances were even less. Then you start writing for everything (like a Club Souveneir, Annual Puja number, Office Magazine, Letters on the death of relatives etc) you can lay your hands on. I am speaking on behalf of writers who have a command over the language, have a distinct style and few favourite subjects and have few or no published works. Of course, every writer feels that he satisfies the above criteria but that is only a matter of opinion. The question of getting ‘noticed’ is also important because however well you write you are never going to be compared to those famous ,famous Indian writers in English – R.K.Narayanan, Nirad C.Choudhruy,V.S.Naipaul,Vikram Seth, Shashi Tharoor,Amitava Ghosh,Arundathi Roy,Shobha De and others.

So why do we write? Is it because we want to give vent to our creative talents? In that case these Writers’ forum must be profusely thanked, because whether you are featured or ranked within 1000 or not, nothing prevents you from blogging. Except in a few cases where bloggers are barred (may be for obscene contents as there is no editorial team) the Sulekha team does not dissuade or discourage anyone from writing. Again this ‘free for all’ approach may bring down the quality and all and sundry may blog. How is that to be prevented or Should that be prevented at all? Because those articles may never be viewed by anyone other than the guy who has penned it. This takes us to the next question- What should be the yardstick for evaluating articles? With a writer base of say 12000, even if an article is viewed 500 times, it works out to measly 4%. Then what constitutes ideal viewership? All the users may not be in the habbit of logging in at least once a day. Not all the bloggers might succeed in building up their own readership base. Because there are likely to be more people, who love to write (rather than to read) in the web community.  In the newspaper, what is the surety that every news item is read by every reader? In case of news papers, readers know that the number of readers will be far higher than contributors.  Like at best there may be  100 contributors for a particular edition, while   the readership runs into few lacs.

If you go on sending letters/articles/essays to News paper offices, once in a while something gets published. You do not know for sure the fate of the rest. Some may reach you back with a regret note while others may be confined straight to the dustbins of the news paper offices. In Web since the author himself is the editor and publisher, every one of his work is showcased and instantaneously. So does this act an incentive to people who may not really have writing skills, but yet want to see their name on print? When you go through some of the articles which are featured, you cannot stop wondering whether it is so or not.

And then the art of writing – is it connected to any other form of art? Like a good writer, should he able to paint well, have a basic sense of music, know something of the varieties of food and wine etc. Or that God is choosy about his benevolence and restrict his ‘goodies’ to one per individual and good writers are, essentially, only those. Or is that writers have a better comprehending ability; more balanced view and are generally more informative compared to the general public?

Why there is an inner urge to write? Is it common to all? or only to a select few who have a way with the words. For the others is writing, like a dumb man trying to describe his dream? And for those who write, do they write because they have a message or because they have to write they “invent” a message? This question is particularly relevant because although I am a SULEKHA MEMBER from Jan 2006 (regret why I did not register earlier) only from Mar 2007 I have been prolific in my contribution. I have been writing one article daily. I think more than the first point (of having some message) it is the second point (writing for writing sake) is driving me. This is certainly not a positive development. Is this the opposite of the WRITER"S BLOCK - when one wants to write and yet cannot.If this is true in my case, it could be so in other cases. Did all the writers suffer from similar fate initially?

Or does the whole process of creative writing follow a cycle? (as  does everything else in life).Initially there is an urge to write- it is followed by a prolific output where all the ‘non-essentials’ also find their way – then there is a stabilizing period where you are clear about what you want to write and when – and finally the output is intentionally restricted with a view to maintain exclusivity.

The other comparison I want to draw is the one between the urge to write and the life-giving (reproductive) instincts. Those who have tried to control their sexual urge will be able to understand better what I mean. Life, for a week you do not indulge in sex, voluntarily, and on the 8^th day there is that compulsive physical urge which seeks an outlet. Yogic practices   (I am still a student of this subject and do not have a thorough knowledge) say that the fluid has to be regenerated (instead of being let out) back to “Kapalam” by awakening the power of the snake-shaped Kundalini. The generation of the life-fluid cannot be stopped. If it is not spilled it has be taken atop your physical system. Likewise, even when you have something important to share, can you check yourselves from writing? There are no external controls, but can you do it voluntarily? Because if this is true, the converse must also be true. You can write when you do not want also.

Finally one has to consider those writers who may not be computer-friendly. Even if they are computer savvy, they may be sharing the resources (like a computer) or may have restricted access of the net. In that case how does it effect their out-put? Or should one be judged by output alone?

I am sure this article,as suggested initially, would have come up with more questions than answers. There may be as many answers as the number of users of this site. Nothing sums up the issue better than Sri Ramakrishna’s apt comment regarding the existence of multiple religions –JOTHO MOTH TOTHO PATH (As many paths as the number of opinions) .