Is there a point in writing stories that others might not read?

I don’t mean to be flippant. This is a perfectly sincere answer: if you don’t see a point, then there isn’t one.

The answer lies in whether or not you enjoy it and whether it has the desired stress-releasing effect. If the answer is yes, then by all means continue. If it’s a chore, then stop. Find another way to relieve stress. One great way is to exercise and walking is a good way to do that.

If you love it and It’s a stress reliever than go ahead and write. I feel the same way I write stories but no one ever reads them. When my teacher has me read it in class people talk and I don’t think I will ever publish my writings. But I still like to write anyway.
By the way I would be interested reading your stories. Maybe you could share us your stories.

I write stuff that only a few, if any, would read. But I keep on writing anyways to see how creative I am.

You might get really good at writing because you write a lot, and one day get published.

I think of writing as flexing the creative muscle. If it gives you pleasure, do it. It’s that simple. But I do wonder, as @Jeruba points out, if you’re having to ask, maybe this isn’t the best outlet for your creativity or your stress relief.

If it releases stress, as you stated , I’d run with it.

To me it’s not much different than writing answers on a Q & A site that no one is ever going to see again.

Of course. I have kept a journal for a long time, and I hope no one ever reads them. Writing fiction is just another form of journaling.

Don’t you get satisfaction from the writing? If so, that is reason enough to continue. You could also serialize your stories in a blog. Then others could find them and read them.

Writing a book is a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout of some painful illness. One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven on by some demon whom one can neither resist nor understand. ~George Orwell, “Why I Write,” 1947

If you don’t feel this way about writing, it’s like @Jeruba said… there’s no point in writing.

Well, you said you write for stress relief and did not plan on having it published. Why would you stop writing since you found out it won’t be published and no one will be reading it? Continue on for stress relief and for your personal release and for creativity. Who knows… you could one day write something that later goes on to be a classic, stranger things have happened.

I think the question really is about what you are aiming for with your writing.
If it’s purely for yourself, then that would be like journaling. As you say and others point out, it has fringe benefits or stress relief, etc.

But, if you desire to share it with others, then writing becomes a craft. And it becomes something that you must work at. You must ruthlessly discard, rewrite, and seek to improve your writing. This is something that requires a much larger commitment of time and effort. For some of us, there is an odd sort of enjoyment in this type of task; an obsession with words. If you enjoy this process, then well – whether or not you get recognition, you will want to write anyway.

(By the way, I respectfully disagree with the jellies above who suggest that just by the process of writing a lot, you will automatically get better. I think there needs to be a level of consciousness and intention about the process.)

As an artist and writer, I’ve often found myself asking why I’m doing what I do. Sometimes people have said to me, ‘just do it for yourself’, which has never felt satisfactory. If you are satisfied with writing for yourself, for your own stress release or whatever, then why worry? At some point, if you read back what you have written and feel you want to learn how to improve it, then you can. If you don’t write at all, then you cannot improve. Do what pleases you.

Simple.
If it works as a stress release, then yes.
If you are hoping to write something one day that will be published, then yes.
Writing and drawing are very similar in that the more you practice by writing random things and working on them, the better you will get. Just working out that creativity makes things run smoother.

If the answer is no to either of the above, maybe you shouldn’t. Though it’s not harming anyone either…

You never know. Someone may read it some day.

In theory, the more you practice, the better you get. Eventually, you might write something that is publishable.

Good luck. I think that’s the dream of many here.

If you enjoy doing it why not? Also, writing is just about the best way to learn how to write. If you continue to write you will either stay at the level you are and continue to do it for your own enjoyment or you will keep getting better and may eventually get published. Millions of people engage in creative pursuits for their own pleasure and self-expression. They paint, play music, write poetry, do crafts, build things, etc. Only you can if decide your writing is a waste of your time.

Well, just writing it is a good point in itself, I would say.
Knowing how to enjoy the path without regard to consequences is an important trait in life. Try and think of what it has given you to write the book.

You should absolutely keep writing. The fact that it is a stress-release for you is worth more than anything money could buy. Also, it keeps your mind sharp and the more you write, the better you get. You may decide later on that something else that you write is worth sending in to the publishers for another go round. One of my cousins writes poetry on a blog. That might be something that is of interest to you. Then other people who are interested in the same kinds of things can read your stuff, rather than just your friends and family if they have no time. Keep it up and enjoy your gift.

If you died and your family went through your things, would you want them to read it?
A friend of mine who was very very funny just naturally worked on a comedy routine for months to go up in front of one of those ruthless comedy clubs [the raucous kind where they throw beer coasters at you if you stink] and was having fun doing it until he thought about his mother hearing the tape [not that he said anything bad about her—it was about his life and how he saw it] and he erased the whole damn thing.
This sounds confusing, but what I mean is do you stand up for your writing?

Never give up…Fiction is a hard market to break but it is not unbreakable.

You should keep writing and just get your own Web page to place your work. If you have the ends I can be hired to illustrate…... :-)

If writing make you happy then you should keep writing. And there are websites for people to read your fiction. Try going to fictionpress.com or fanfiction.com they’re both good sites for publishing and reading ficiton =]

@anartist These are rather problematic examples, I would say, but great point!!