It's not what you think it is

It can be argued that writing is an escape from emotion, not an experience of it. This sounds extremely contrary to our ideas about what writing does for people, which is usually associated with catharsis. A release of emotion. A human need to experience pain, pleasure, sadness, and elation. But maybe writing allows for a different existence altogether, some kind of disconnection. The writer chooses to write something to rid himself of instances of humanity, not live them. They don't have to feel it, just write it down. The experience is for the reader, not the author. Seems like a terrible responsibilty. Maybe that's why we hear more about "your book saved my life" than "writing it saved mine." Maybe that's why the tortured poet is still so tortured. Maybe that's why we're all so damn sad.