Column: Why We Write – Ego or Connection?

Column: Why We Write – Ego or Connection?

Sometimes I wonder: why do people write? A book, a blog, a review, a film… Is it pure ego – the urge to be heard, to exist on paper? Maybe. There’s something about that moment when you put words on a screen and think: this is mine. A small piece of yourself that, hopefully, touches someone.

Still, writing doesn’t feel like showing off to me. It feels more like trying to connect. When I write a restaurant review in the Algarve, it’s not about me. It’s about that couple looking for a nice place to eat tonight, hesitating between two options. Or the traveler who has no idea where they can safely eat according to their diet – whether it’s a milk allergy, gluten-free, vegetarian, or vegan. Somewhere they can eat without stress and without stomach pain. Just enjoy!!

I write because I want people to choose well, not to get lost in tourist traps but to discover the real places. Writing, for me, is a way of sharing — experiences, flavors, atmosphere. And yes, maybe there’s still a bit of ego in it, because deep down I hope someone thinks: he gets it.