These files are maintained strictly for historical reference, research, and recordkeeping purposes,
and the content has not been altered or updated since archiving.
Content on this site may not meet current digital accessibility standards.
If you require an alternative, accessible format of any information found on this site,
please contact Bruce Jones, bjones@ucsd.edu to request an accommodation.
These files are maintained strictly for historical reference, research, and recordkeeping purposes,
and the content has not been altered or updated since archiving.
Content on this site may not meet current digital accessibility standards.
If you require an alternative, accessible format of any information found on this site,
please contact Bruce Jones, bjones@ucsd.edu to request an accommodation.
Just came across a few quotes that felt very CHAT-y and which I found to be very helpful in my own thinking about writing. One of my problems in writing (or so I gather) has been my assumption that writing is a process of mental transcription - I think about something in my head and then figure out what to say and then I write out my thoughts. But smarter minds (and better writers!) than I have suggested the opposite insight. Here are a couple gems I came across: Edward Albee: "I write to find out what I'm thinking about." W. H. Auden: "Language is the mother, not the handmaiden, of thought; words will tell you things you never thought or felt before." Alan Dugan: "When I'm successful, I find the poem will come out saying something that I didn't previously know, believe, or had intellectually agreed with." As a belated New Year wish, I hope that we all are able to write so that we might, through our writing, be taught something new and worthwhile (and beautiful?) by our words. Here's to wishing. -greg p.s., I originally heard the Albee quote (ascribed to Auden) in an interview with Jonathan Safran Foer ( http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2012/01/06/foer-loud-close), but he appears to have improperly ascribed Albee's quote to Auden, who said something similar, but different. Here is the website with lots more wonderful quotes from great writers, Enjoy: https://notes.utk.edu/bio/greenberg.nsf/0/5a867953419c6ae68525780d0000d7d3?OpenDocument __________________________________________ _____ xmca mailing list xmca@weber.ucsd.edu http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/listinfo/xmca