"You write in order to change the world, knowing perfectly well that you probably can’t, but also knowing that literature is indispensable to the world...The world changes according to the way people see it, and if you alter, even by a millimeter, the way...people look at reality, then you can change it." -James BaldwinSo opens the newest book from Mary Pipher, Writing to Change the World, author of such therapeutic texts as Letters to a Young Therapist and Reviving Ophelia. I find myself in disagreement with Baldwin and Pipher though. I do not write to change the world; I write because not doing so simply isn’t a viable option.
Writing, expressing the thoughts in my head, feelings in my heart via paper and pen (or keyboard and fiber optic network), is as vital to my existence as the air we breathe. I do, however, have an option when it comes to whether or not I choose to share my writing with other people, with the world.
I could probably find steady employment that offered the benefits of a health care plan, 401K, living wage and allow my passion for words to remain hidden in the back of my closet. Instead, I choose to believe I can somehow make a difference in this world by bringing my writing into the light.
To be certain, I do not hold any grand illusions of eradicating war, prejudice, disease, poverty or human cruelty with a handful of typed pages - I’m not so naive as one might initially assume. Difficulty, trauma, and pain have plagued human existence from the very beginning, despite the public cries for reason and understanding from individuals of far greater wisdom than myself.
I do not expect the masses to fall on bended knee with divine reverence at the appearance of my words, so much as I hope to provide brief moments of comfort; a small gap among the clouds which allows for a tiny ray of comfort, or understanding to light on one or two folks. If someone came away from one of my pieces saying, “I never thought of things that way before,” or “Wow, someone else understands how I feel,” then my job is well done.
Article comments
1 - Victor Lana
Nice post, Catherine. It shows the kind of "I write; therefore, I am" attitude that is necessary and compelling in this world of words, blogs, and the like.
Just remember to keep at it; never give up; stay true to yourself; and, most importantly, have fun!
2 - A.L. Harper
I agree with you. I write because I must. I have no choice. I write therefore I am.
Good article.
3 - Iloz Zoc
I would amend the statement to read, "I write to change MY world." It's writing and the gazillion variations of hot and cold coffee that keep my world buzzing along.
4 - cat
First: thanks to all of you for your feedback, it's dreadful to feel like one's writing has been cast out into a void. (I apologize if that's overly dramatic).
Victor: I agree absolutely; the day my heart ceases to beat faster with excitement when I'm writing, will be the day I set my pen aside. I had so much fun writing this particular post, not even knowing when I started that it would end up being a BC piece.
A.L.: It took 23 years before I started connecting with people like you...I attended my first writer's conference in June 2001 and came home after the first full day in a daze, telling my family over and over, "I have found my people."
Iloz Zoc (I hope I got your name right, if not I apologize): Aaaahhh, I like your amendment. I'm sure if we took a survey, writers of all walks would give such an interesting variations on that statement, no? :)
Again, thank you to all.
5 - Mark Saleski
exactly right catherine, because you have to. don't it know it!
extra points for being a person not averse to dragging a pen across fresh paper.
6 - Timmy
You know, it is possible to get paid to write. You don't have to starve. Or, maybe that's part of the attraction. I prefer lasagna over ramen.
7 - Mark Sahm
I believe the point of writing *should be* the near-impossible task of creating an original idea or concept. Trying over and over to lay just a fingertip on the branch of originality that always hangs just out of reach for 99% of us.
If you truly love the craft, then you will try to get as close to that task as possible.
Without original concepts, your real subconscious goal in writing is just to sound like all of the writers whose work you admire. Which is sadly what 99% of us do.
8 - Elvira Black
Mark, I have to disagree a bit--I think it's not the concept as much as the execution or style. Really good writers can make blowing their nose sound new and exciting.
9 - cat
Timmy: I don't believe I said anything postitive or negative about writing for a paycheck, nor did I romanticize the starving artist in his/her isolated tower. I see nothing wrong with making a living from one's art; seems to me that you used my post to make a completely irrelivant statement, simply because you wanted to comment on folks who are against profiting from their writing.
Mark: I truly love my craft; whether or not I meet your definition of such an individual is entirely your own opinion - to which you are entitled; however, it makes no difference to me, my writing, nor my life.
Elvira: Hee! I do tend to agree - those adept with words are often capable of squeezing something worthwhile out of most (if not all) experiences.
10 - cat
Irrelevant*
11 - Mark Bellinghaus
Cat:"I’m not so naive as one might initially assume. Difficulty, trauma, and pain have plagued human existence from the very beginning, despite the public cries for reason and understanding from individuals of far greater wisdom than myself."
Thanks Cat, I can relate to what you are saying; TV has taken away the human fantasy almost in its entire. We are simply too busy to "think" or even create something on our own. Unfortunately.
Everything is available in the frozen food section--and at home we have the beloved microwave.
Don't limit yourself, Cat, as I feel that you have great potential. By reading your post you gave me something positive and I wanted to thank you for it. Six month ago, I did not even know what a blog was, and then found an outlet for my mission and it was a huge success. Thank god, but I could live without the success. I wrote a journal for 17 years, once you stop that, it is weird. Like someone close left forever.
I believe in the power of word, thought and poetry and prosa.
As long as we communicate and not just consume and sit on their couch in order to forget about their own life and vote for the best singer, dancer, worm eater and survivor, we are ALIVE.
How can anybody judge other people's writing? How can these critics judge movies? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And some people just seem blind on both eyes.
How can one judge the writing of a Charles Bukowski poem or an Arthur Rimbaud?
12 - Mark Sahm
Elvira: I'm not saying that those with great execution and style (but nothing original in terms of concept) are not great writers... but that such a style or execution has most likely been done a few times over already by that great writer's contemporaries.
These facets of style usually break down to specific techniques taught in classes or learned through the reading/studying of others.
But on the other hand, concepts have the ability to extend a writer's place much further... be it by the fusion of several ideas, an improvement on something old, or spawning a new beastie altogether.
Just because someone here writes an excellently executed Top 10 list of their favorite songs does not change the fact that such a post idea is tired and clichéd.
The only catch is that a great concept needs the style points to be embraced. But at least those points can be learned. Concepts come from another level.
Ms. Cat: Sorry if it came off that way, but I was not directing my points AT you. You asked 'Why Write?' and I answered from my fort in the battle of words. Of course, given that you've come to ask yourself this question in the first place means that you're open to new perspectives and expansion of your craft, which is good. Best of luck in your literary travels.
13 - Mark Saleski
yes, let it be known that mark sahm almost never fires things off directly at people unless they really deserve it. dj radiohead, for example.
14 - Mark Sahm
Thanks for the legal representation, Saleski. I didn't realize my methods were so well documented.
15 - Elvira Black
Just because I'm in a frisky mood:
One word: Postmodernism.
"Originality" is a "modern" ideal. We're not in the modern era anymore, and much of our culture consists of riffing on riffs. But you can still be originally derivative, so to speak--and even create something new out of the detritus of the old.
16 - cat
"Originality" is a "modern" ideal. We're not in the modern era anymore, and much of our culture consists of riffing on riffs. But you can still be originally derivative, so to speak--and even create something new out of the detritus of the old.
Oooo Elvira, I likey! :) That's going in my quotations notebook as fodder for future inspiration.