Inspired by this prompt at Writer’s Digest, I pulled up a series of Tweets from last year where I went on a mini Tweetstorm sharing some of the reasons why I write.

I’ve expanded or discussed more in-depth most of those notions over the last year. They all remain very true, though, along with others. At the end of the day I write because that’s how I make sense of the world. Sometimes that’s through commenting on the news of the day, sometimes it’s through fiction that channels some idea or issue I’m pondering. Or it’s just to have fun.

I write simply because that’s what I do.

Chris Thilk is a freelance writer and content strategist who lives in the Chicago suburbs.