I write because I must. I must write assignments and lessons, comments to my students, models for them too, emails to my colleagues, and reports too many to name. I must blog, because I have so much to say about writing, teaching, and especially teaching writing. I must create poems, essays, and more, because I have so much to say and so often the spoken word fails me. I must craft words into messages – of hope and comfort or question and challenge – for me, for loved ones, for strangers. I write because I must.