Why do fiction writers, in essays and interviews, say their characters speak, and they hear the voices? Are they joking, seeking validation, or bragging?

For many years, I thought they were joking. But after seeing multiple personality in some of my patients, I realized that such things were possible.

My next guess as to why fiction writers were making this public was that they sought validation. Every time they said they heard voices and were not called crazy, they were reassured.

Then it occurred to me that the fiction writers were bragging: They have multiple personality trait and most people don’t.

Of course, it could be all three: They are bragging, seeking validation, and have a sense of humor.