heidi_'s review
5.0
"The ordinary stories are sometimes the most illuminating of our lives because the simply factual can lead us to the deeply philosophical. They allow us to stop time, to preserve not only who we are but who we once were. When you write, you connect with yourself, past, present, and future... writing can make memory concrete, and memory is such a hard thing to hold on to... writing is a hedge against forgetting."
A lovely, short read on the importance of writing for ourselves and those around us. Writing is presented as an accessible tool for everyone to make better sense of themselves and their lives. Recording our interior lives — regardless of how interesting they feel, or how well we write — has vast ripple effects on how we engage with the world. Quindlen makes a strong case for anyone who has been put off by previous attempts at journaling, or who were discouraged in their ability to write, to abandon hesitations and put pen to paper. It doesn't have to be perfect to be worthwhile; the creation process is the means and the end.
A lovely, short read on the importance of writing for ourselves and those around us. Writing is presented as an accessible tool for everyone to make better sense of themselves and their lives. Recording our interior lives — regardless of how interesting they feel, or how well we write — has vast ripple effects on how we engage with the world. Quindlen makes a strong case for anyone who has been put off by previous attempts at journaling, or who were discouraged in their ability to write, to abandon hesitations and put pen to paper. It doesn't have to be perfect to be worthwhile; the creation process is the means and the end.
dianablanco's review
3.0
A book for everyday writers. For those whom writing is seen as a task for the professionals. Here is a book to challenge your mindset to write for the sake of preserving your truths, your histories, your perspective. Pay no mind to grammar, spelling or prose. Simply write.
jschmidt10's review
5.0
I needed this. She said three words that sum up what you need to do to write: butt in seat. Sit yourself down and just write. Write for yourself. Write to leave something behind for your loved ones. Write about the mundane things in life and the great things. Write letters. I listened to this on a long car drive and it made me want to pull over and write on the side of the road.