Tuesday, January 16, 2024

The WHY of Writing

 

To write is to fight forgetting.”

Annie Ernaux, Nobel laureate in literature 2022

 

 

Much is made of the impetus to write. Annie Ernaux is primarily a memoirist, and so the quotation above seems a perfect fit for her motivation. Fiction writing appears to be more about organizing one’s thoughts, ideas, and ideals. After all, what is there to forget when it comes to tales of the imagination?

 

I maintain that fiction is about truth, our truth, and by writing our truth down, carved of words-sentences-paragraphs-chapters-novels, we writers are fighting the human propensity to forget.

 

Fiction/fantasy is the cloak. The body is our truth as we make an attempt to chisel and give shape to it so it may be incorporated into the communal memory.

 

Fiction is often, nay— usually, bolder, and thus more honest. Ernaux is exceptionally honest, but in my experience only fiction allows a complete unveiling.

 

This is my mini-attempt to record and reveal my personal driving force. As the number of my years grows, I am fighting forgetting with increasing ferocity.



4 comments:

  1. Well, I can definitely identify with the forgetting cartoon. As for writing fiction, I think you're right about great fiction (or even good fiction). But I don't think all fiction has to be about things so important. I think some fiction can be just silly or fun. Giving people something to laugh about can be a worthwhile goal.

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  2. Yes, indeed, Mirka. And to piggyback on Ev's comment--even the fun and light-hearted stories point to truth.

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  3. Creative expression, in whatever medium—fiction, poetry, film, song,, musical composition, painting, sculpture, fiber art, dance, etc.—
    is a form of truth. Unfortunately, it can also be used as propaganda, but then it is no longer truth.

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