On the web, I am known (fairly consistently) as Nil Athelion, or as Aelaris. You can find other names if you search hard enough, but enough about that.
I've been writing on and off since I was... 13? 14? I started, as many teenaged authors do, by writing the most horrifying kind of drivel, and gradually working my way from there. Started a lot of long-form stories that died on the vine.
From fairly early on, I started posting my stories publicly, both on Fictionpress (now somewhat defunct) and on my favorite web-forum. This helped a lot, both motivationally, and by folks catching my most egregious flaws and mending them before they became too heavily ingrained in my style. I recommend sharing any story you write, unless you think you're going to sell the exclusive rights to the story to some publisher.
Influence-wise, I grew up reading Tolkien, Steven Brust, and a few other fantasy writers. I have a strong preference for stories that have a very solid setting that is entirely coherent with itself. Also a distaste for whimsy, which is why I never read past the first Harry Potter book (ironic, given the change in tone throughout the series). Peter S. Beagle's excellent The Last Unicorn is probably the most whimsy I can manage, I'm afraid to say.
On the other side of influence, I learnt a surprising amount about writing from Michael T. Stackpole (in person, primarily). Formulas and rules of thumb to write well, which have served me far better than all the stuff about self-expression I've gotten at other writer's conferences, CW classes, etc.
As for why I write... well, I'm not really a writer. That is, I'm not compelled to write, and I do, in fact, have a choice. I like to believe I'm not bad at writing stories, but my main talent is in simply creating content. I love doing it. It just happens that I'm better at writing than I am at drawing or programming or game design (maybe). That and some people keep giving me the impression they like reading what I write.
Anyway, I think that's the relevant bit for this page. If you want to know more, google my aliases or perhaps email me via featherless@gmail.com. If there's something you think I ought to put up here, then tell me via email.
Oh, and if you want to talk to me, email me with whatever medium you prefer to use, and I'll get back to you. I'm really friendly, you see.