So much of this resonates with me, though less of why I came to writing so late than why I was able to fulfill myself by it so late. And this: "I don’t mean the writer must crush another. I mean the writer must crush herself." Yes. Absolutely, yes.
So much food for thought here. Everything is on schedule, never too late. Trouble is, as we accumulate so much to write about over time we have to do a major sorting just to find the core of what actually needs to be said. haha Luckily that takes us right back to the child, always emerging , Thank you!
Beautifully said, Mary! I loved reading that and learning about the courage and sense of ownership of one’s life - a self respect - (that’s sorely missing in todays culture) that brought you here! I also loved what you said about how Writing lets us create something outside of ourselves!
Apr 13, 2023·edited Apr 13, 2023Liked by <Mary L. Tabor>
You've perfectly captured what draws me to writing, despite everything: "I keep writing because that process—not of catharsis—but of the creation of something “other” gives my life a fullness I think only the attempt to create art can do."
Makes me think of a bell hooks quote, from Remembered Rapture, "We do not write because we must; we always have choice. We write because language is the way we keep a hold on life. With words we experience our deepest understandings of what it means to be intimate. We communicate to connect, to know community." Particularly fitting that your Substack is called "Only connect..."
I'm also thinking of something Annie Ernaux writes in Happening, "Maybe the true purpose of my life is for my body, my sensations and my thoughts to become writing, in other words, something intelligible and universal, causing my existence to merge into the lives and heads of other people."
Thank you for that offer, Mary. Let me give it some thought. I can send you one of those that I contributed to Eureka! and you can see if it’s what you have in mind. Love, Mary
Here at Kendal@Oberlin we publish a journal, Eureka!, three times a year. Since all of us are over 65 and some close to 100, the articles published are all by this older generation. The articles range from personal reminiscences to fictional tales to original and translated poetry. We have had some truly memorable submissions over KaO’s three decades of existence.
So much of this resonates with me, though less of why I came to writing so late than why I was able to fulfill myself by it so late. And this: "I don’t mean the writer must crush another. I mean the writer must crush herself." Yes. Absolutely, yes.
So much food for thought here. Everything is on schedule, never too late. Trouble is, as we accumulate so much to write about over time we have to do a major sorting just to find the core of what actually needs to be said. haha Luckily that takes us right back to the child, always emerging , Thank you!
Never too late. My mom didn’t publish her first book until 2015, at age 64.
Beautifully said, Mary! I loved reading that and learning about the courage and sense of ownership of one’s life - a self respect - (that’s sorely missing in todays culture) that brought you here! I also loved what you said about how Writing lets us create something outside of ourselves!
Not all of the great writers started when young. Literature is a flexible profession in that sense.
Beautiful!
Marry, this is so beautiful. Thank you for sharing so much! Creativity truly is endless!
You've perfectly captured what draws me to writing, despite everything: "I keep writing because that process—not of catharsis—but of the creation of something “other” gives my life a fullness I think only the attempt to create art can do."
Makes me think of a bell hooks quote, from Remembered Rapture, "We do not write because we must; we always have choice. We write because language is the way we keep a hold on life. With words we experience our deepest understandings of what it means to be intimate. We communicate to connect, to know community." Particularly fitting that your Substack is called "Only connect..."
I'm also thinking of something Annie Ernaux writes in Happening, "Maybe the true purpose of my life is for my body, my sensations and my thoughts to become writing, in other words, something intelligible and universal, causing my existence to merge into the lives and heads of other people."
Lovely piece.
Thank you for that offer, Mary. Let me give it some thought. I can send you one of those that I contributed to Eureka! and you can see if it’s what you have in mind. Love, Mary
How the light gets in. Thanks, Mary.
"I don’t mean the writer must crush another. I mean the writer must crush herself."
Amazing and true. Taking risks and showing ourselves a side we never knew existed.
Beautiful post and photos. Thanks again, Mary.
Heartbreaking and life-affirming at the same time. Such beautiful words, Mary, and a powerful message. Thank you.
Here at Kendal@Oberlin we publish a journal, Eureka!, three times a year. Since all of us are over 65 and some close to 100, the articles published are all by this older generation. The articles range from personal reminiscences to fictional tales to original and translated poetry. We have had some truly memorable submissions over KaO’s three decades of existence.
Very inspiring 💙