I think you hint at the reality of writing--which is, what better pursuit is there in life? You can only spend so much of your day screwing and eating. There is travel and football games to attend and TV shows to watch. But writing, at least momentarily, freezes the interior experience of life the same way that visual art captures the outward experience of life. It's a way of leaving a piece of yourself behind in this transitory world.
"freezes the interior experience of life" gets very close to it for me. It's like meditation: it's not always pleasant, but gradually, cumulatively, you feel like you are beginning to experience life at a fuller depth
I think it was just past my own 4 decades of life that I realized my most intimate, insightful, inspirational “friends” were authors and musicians from across the globe and expanses of time.
The words and melodies shared expanded and shaped my heart, mind…soul. Words, notes, recorded ideas make community and belonging limitless.
So write. Keep those ideological shores ever expanding, and inclusive.
"Why write?" is a question I've worried over a lot in recent years, without coming close to an answer as eloquent or cogent as yours. I heard an author once say that to ask why we write stories is like asking why we dream. Sometimes, for about five minutes, I have the grace to leave it at that...and then I go back to scratching at the question like a dog with fleas. Keeping your essay close will help. "I write to live" will do nicely
I think you hint at the reality of writing--which is, what better pursuit is there in life? You can only spend so much of your day screwing and eating. There is travel and football games to attend and TV shows to watch. But writing, at least momentarily, freezes the interior experience of life the same way that visual art captures the outward experience of life. It's a way of leaving a piece of yourself behind in this transitory world.
"freezes the interior experience of life" gets very close to it for me. It's like meditation: it's not always pleasant, but gradually, cumulatively, you feel like you are beginning to experience life at a fuller depth
The other part of it is that it's a fun hobby, like stamp collecting or building ships inside bottles!
PREACH! If nothing else, you inspire me to write more. Right now.
How'd it go? ;)
Keep writing. Also, 50 is the new 40. At least that’s what I say.
Ha! I think you're right. Which means 40 is the new 30.
(This probably just means we're maturing more slowly, but oh well!)
Well spoken. Reminds me of a quote I learned long ago: "The only good reason to become a writer is because you can't not be a writer."
That's been a deep truth for me my whole life.
I think it was just past my own 4 decades of life that I realized my most intimate, insightful, inspirational “friends” were authors and musicians from across the globe and expanses of time.
The words and melodies shared expanded and shaped my heart, mind…soul. Words, notes, recorded ideas make community and belonging limitless.
So write. Keep those ideological shores ever expanding, and inclusive.
lovely start to your exploration-explaination. past called...primally possessed. word up.
Love it, but in all your writing, I want to know the most common word you mispell
There are too many to keep track.
That was brilliant! It describes me perfectly, from beginning to end!
Thank you! The best thing to discover in the sharing of this stuff is that I'm never really alone in any of it.
"Why write?" is a question I've worried over a lot in recent years, without coming close to an answer as eloquent or cogent as yours. I heard an author once say that to ask why we write stories is like asking why we dream. Sometimes, for about five minutes, I have the grace to leave it at that...and then I go back to scratching at the question like a dog with fleas. Keeping your essay close will help. "I write to live" will do nicely
So important to remember, so easy to forget. Which is why I find myself so often coming back to write about the why, just to remember.