Last night as Alan and I were re-watching Finding Forrester, I was caught by these words:
Why is it the words we write for ourselves are so much
better that the words we write for others.
Followed immediately by this:
No thinking - that comes later. You must write your first draft with your heart. You rewrite with your head. The first key to writing is... to write, not to think!
This resonated deeply with me, because it is truth. When I write from my heart and soul, with the editor muted, the truth is so apparent. The struggle to find the word or phrase that expresses just what I want is cut short, because I don't worry about words or phrasing. I speak from my heart.
Writers are frequently damaged people. We write to clarify what is floating around in our heads. We write for ourselves. I write to clear the fog, to see the truth, to find evidence, to convince myself of reality, and to reclaim my self-esteem. I don't know if those are honorable intentions or not, but that's why I write.
“We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect.”
― Anaïs Nin
linking up with Just Write
"Writers are frequently damaged people. We write to clarify what is floating around in our heads. We write for ourselves."
ReplyDeleteYou nailed it! Writing is how I work through things I'm struggling with.
For a long time, I participated in Five Minute Friday - I found the weekly practice of having to turn off my editor and free write really helped my writing. I think it helped me learn how to turn off that inner editor long enough for the really big scary ideas to escape onto the screen. As a fellow participant in 31days AND NaNoWriMo, I'm finding both exercises to take that experience even further. There's just no time to edit all those words.
ReplyDeleteI'd recommend reading Jeff Goins' YOU ARE A WRITER book. It's quick but deep.
I just bought that book! Can't wait to read it :)
DeleteI agree completely! I am presently reading On Becoming a Writer: What Every Blogger Needs to Know by Denise J. Hughes. Your ideas go right along with what she says in her book. If you haven't read it, I think you would like it.
ReplyDeleteWriters are frequently damaged people. We write to clarify what is floating around in our heads. We write for ourselves. I write to clear the fog, to see the truth, to find evidence, to convince myself of reality, and to reclaim my self-esteem. I don't know if those are honorable intentions or not, but that's why I write."
ReplyDeleteAbsolute beauty!
I can identify with your reasons for writing. And, I discovered during Write 31 that when I just write, turn the self-editor off, my words are more truthful, transparent, really sharing from the heart. Keep writing, I enjoyed this post!
ReplyDeleteI write to metabolize the world around me and within me. I am certain I am healthier than I've ever been since I began my daily writing habit last December. Write on, fellow 31 dayer!
ReplyDelete