To shift the structure of a sentence alters the meaning of that sentence, as definitely and inflexibly as the position of a camera alters the meaning of the object photographed.
Joan DidionRead
I don't write for catharsis; I have to write to understand.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote expresses that writing is a method of gaining understanding rather than just an emotional release.
In this quote, Joan Didion emphasizes that her motivation for writing stems from a need to comprehend experiences and insights rather than merely seeking emotional relief. This highlights the idea that writing serves a deeper purpose in making sense of the world and oneβs thoughts, positioning it as a tool for clarity and self-discovery.
Themes
WritingUnderstandingCatharsisSelf-DiscoveryExpression
In practice
Example use cases
In a writing workshop, to motivate participants, one could say, 'Remember, as Didion said, writing helps us understand our thoughts.'
More from Joan Didion
All quotes βThe truth is, it's easier for me to write than talk... to express the state I'm in at any time.
Joan DidionRead
Memories are what you no longer want to remember.
Joan DidionRead
It was clear, for example, in 1988 that the political process had already become perilously remote from the electorate it was meant to represent.
Joan DidionRead
I mean maybe I was holding all the aces, but what was the game?
Joan DidionRead
Do not whine... Do not complain. Work harder. Spend more time alone.
Joan DidionRead
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Write the best book you can, the one that demands to be written, no matter what genre it is. Even a trend the trades tell you has gone stale can be revitalized by a superb piece of writing. It'll never be revitalized by someone jumping on a trend bandwagon.
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Write every day, just to keep in the habit, and remember that whatever you have written is neither as good nor as bad as you think it is. Just keep going, and tell yourself that you will fix it later.
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If you interrupt the writing of fast narrative with too much introspection and self-criticism, you will be lucky if you write 500 words a day and you will be disgusted with them into the bargain. By following my formula, you write 2,000 words a day and you arenβt disgusted with them until the book is finished, which will be in about six weeks.
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It's so easy, as a writer, to get stuck in your own head, to live in the little worlds you create. To forget that there are people out there reading your work, people who may be deeply affected by what you do, that you are writing not just for yourself, but for them.
Celeste NgRead