How do you justify your work? Or do you...
Why I write...the word dump that allows the brain dump
On Wednesdays I do one of two things (I’m pro-choice,) I write about writing or I share writing that I have written that is “real writing.” Write on. (x6)
The word dump that allows the brain dump.
Because I think through typing.
AND to clear the words from my head. (Logic is not one of the reasons.)
There are people that want to talk about depression and miscarriage and money and sex who need an over sharer in their life. That might as well be me.
I want to have a one word answer to “what do you do?” at cocktail parties.
Photo by Olena Sergienko on Unsplash A $25 check made out to me is better than a $25 check made out by me. Not that I even know what a check is anymore.
I always wanted to make stuff but I can’t draw and I don’t consider offspring part of the creative process. Except literally.
Writing can be both messy and disciplined. I can have a brain dump, or revisit, reorganize, revise and reinvent. Guess which I do more?
Even though “new media” has a 30 hour life cycle it also offers immortality. It is both right now and forever.
It helps me remember me.
Having a dedicated place to be selfish helps me be present for other people the rest of the time. I said helps.
Knowing that I have a place to explore the spark of an idea helps me notice the spark. Phrases, challenges, individual moments can live twice. In the exact moment and again when I poke at them like the lump of clay they are.
It thickens my skin. The internet may have Captcha filters, but not reader filters. I get some mean comments. I try not to cry. This allows me to reexamine and reframe my ideas, and remember that most emotional responses are from people’s own shit, not whatever shit I might have put out there.
I just believe in Putting Out.
What about you? Do you have a reason (or 11) for doing what you do?
I write but not for the reasons you do. I write to explain or figure out my answer to some question, usually about politics, but sometimes broader: like what is a good neighbor? There's a great book bny Nicholas Delbanco, Why We Write. But you're not speaking for we, just you.
This resonated with me in more ways than one. Incidentally, a couple of weeks ago, I wrote on what you can describe as my one-word answer to “What do you do?”.