That's an excellent question Cryptopooka. Chuck's right - it's probably the best question yet asked. I've been asking myself that question a lot lately.

Do I like the idea of being a writer or do I want to write?
Is it my ego that needs recognition or my 'spirit' or something that yearns for some connection with another?

I think it's both.
Chuck hit it on the nail with wanting praise.

Here's a quote that hit me hard "I am greedy, selfish and jealous and I try desparately to be loved by all. I am thinking day and night of how to make myself so important that it will force people to think only good about me. I am sorry but it's true that I always want to be in the right.........whatever I say, I say for two reasons:(1)To create sympathy for myself (2)to show how important I am" (author's declaration in 1st chapter) the great playwright Lajos Egri from 'The Art of Creative Writing' Citadel Press 1965.

I think we could also ask ourselves why do we pursue graphic arts? Or any art.

I am beginning to think it's both ego and 'spirit', but I also think that art forces the artist to suffer and grow in some way so it may also lead to experience: subconciously we are led to acquire experience in order to grow.

Damn, I got a little deep there.

Maybe it's just fantasizing about being someone else(your character)and being in control of what happens.