A write pulse generating apparatus and method which can generate a write pulse appropriate for the type and the recording speed factor of an optical recording medium are provided. The write pulse generating apparatus which generates a write pulse appropriate to an optical recording medium by controlling a light emitting device via a light emitting device driving unit so that a desired write pulse is generated, the write pulse generating apparatus including a control unit which provides information on the type of the optical recording medium and information on the recording speed factor; and a control signal generating unit which determines the type of a multi pulse which is to be generated in a multi pulse interval based on the information on the type and recording speed factor of the optical recording medium which is provided by the control unit, and generates a signal for controlling the light emitting device driving unit so that a write pulse having the determined multi pulse type is generated from the light emitting device. Also, the write pulse generating apparatus includes a control unit which sets the level of the write pulse for the entire interval or for a partial interval of a write mark and/or a write space of the optical recording medium according to the type of the optical recording medium and a recording speed factor; and a control signal generating unit which is controlled by the control unit and generates a control signal for changing the level of the write pulse for each interval of a write mark and/or a write space, and sends the control signal to the light emitting device driving unit. According to the apparatus and method, in an optical drive, compatibility with optical recording media of a variety of types and a variety of recording speeds is improved so that quality recording can be provided for any optical recording medium and any recording speed factor.