Writers are professional liars. dduane said so. And, of course, I don't acknowledge it as a truth myself. (It is, in fact, about as "universally acknowledged" as the statement originally attached to that tag.)

But it is hard to justify creative writing (which is of course what I'm talking about) in terms of need. Even in Maslow's hierarchy, creativity is only mentioned at the very top of the pyramid, and only in terms of self-actualisation and maximising potential and problem-solving and so on. All very sober and worthy, and not much to do with Right Ho Jeeves or Xena Warrior Princess or anything I might turn out. Comes right down to it, we seem to be more of a want, not a need at all.