reesa marris

[22] 'why I write' changed me


I always wanted to read Joan Didion. However, take this as an excuse, I have so many books that I haven't read. I decided to take care of that problem first. So one day I decided to read maybe just her short story or articles and I came across this article on Lithub. I read it during my lunch break, once, and it opened something in me. So I read it again. I even printed the article to annotate it. She writes about writing as a way of knowing. Writers aren't intellectuals. So they write to make themselves clear. I reflect on my decision to create this blog. More like why-not-try-this kind of situation. But the more I write, the clearer everything gets. I write about grief, rejection, complaints and silly moments as a record that I actually know nothing about how life works. It can get better, worse and confusing in between. I don't know the smallest decision can harm me in a long time and the biggest decision is actually smaller in the future. In all my fear of uncertainty, I find it fascinating to ponder.

She also writes about how she wants to complete a picture that appears in her mind. Like an unknown woman walking in the airport terminal, going somewhere. The more she writes, the better the story flows. The unknown woman now has a name and destination. Page by page, the woman finally has the whole story. It's interesting to see that perspective. Whenever I have these random story ideas, I'll jot them down somewhere. You know when people say the girl's note app is filled with manifestos, heart-wrenching poems and grocery lists.

Read the article here.


more reason to write,
reesa


#life-updates