"You don't write because you want to say something, you write because you have something to say"

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s words highlight the profound difference between writing as an act of necessity and writing as a mere exercise of communication. The distinction lies in the motivation: Is the act of writing driven by an internal compulsion, or is it simply to fill a void of silence? Fitzgerald asserts that genuine writing is the expression of something urgent and authentic within the writer, an idea, an experience, or a feeling that insists on being shared and cannot easily be silenced.

The difference between wanting to say something and having something to say is subtle but critical. Wanting to say something can stem from the desire for attention or validation. It can be performative, a response to external pressures or expectations. On the other hand, having something to say comes from an honest, internal space, a necessity born from insight, passion, or personal truth. Writing, in Fitzgerald’s perspective, is most alive and meaningful when it emerges from this core necessity, from the soul’s demand for self-expression.

Such writing tends to resonate more deeply with readers, because it carries authenticity. Readers sense when words are spoken from a place of conviction or vulnerability. Writing that is motivated solely by the desire to be heard, rather than the need to express something meaningful, risks becoming hollow or superficial. The creative process, therefore, is not just about transmitting information, but about revealing layers of self, experience, and perspective that might otherwise remain hidden.

Fitzgerald’s view urges writers to examine their intentions. The true task of the writer is to listen closely to their inner voice and to translate that compulsion onto the page, not merely to participate in the noise of the world, but to contribute something genuine and unique. In the end, writing becomes less about the act itself, and more about the necessity of giving voice to that which demands to be spoken.