I introduced myself as a writer yesterday. It felt exaggerated, but the smart/kind/thoughtful person I was speaking with accepted it: “If you write, then you’re a writer.”
I write. I also do necessary writing-adjacent stuff like reading, and like moving around thinking about human psychology during societal collapse.
I think about the role of denial a lot. Part of what I want to do with my writing is refuse to participate in collective denial. It’s a bad long-term strategy, even if it’s easier in the short term.
One excellent piece I (writer) read recently is “We’ve Hit Peak Denial. Here’s Why We Can’t Turn Away From Reality,” by Marianne Cooper and Maxim Voronov (writers), in Scientific American. It’s an uncomfortable read but an important one.
We need to work harder to catch ourselves in the act of staying silent or avoiding uncomfortable information and do more real-time course correcting.
I agree.
I think documenting things real-time helps. I think questioning the “normal” we passively accept helps. I think talking compassionately about these experiences with others helps.
We must stand up for the silenced and stand with the silence-breakers.
I (writer) agree.
I love that line” I also do necessary writing-adjacent stuff like reading, and like moving around thinking about human psychology during societal collapse.”
Graham
Thank you! It’s a reminder (including to myself) that there’s a lot of work behind the words. (I now have Pink Floyd’s “Time” in my head: “Plans that either come to naught / or half a page of scribbled lines.”)
It creates a potent image – sad and funny at the same time. Yes, you are a writer.
Thanks for the link; I hadn’t come across this one myself.
Obviously (to me), you are a writer!