To shift the structure of a sentence alters the meaning of that sentence, as definitely and inflexibly as the position of a camera alters the meaning of the object photographed.
Joan DidionRead
I don't write for catharsis; I have to write to understand.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote expresses that writing is a method of gaining understanding rather than just an emotional release.
In this quote, Joan Didion emphasizes that her motivation for writing stems from a need to comprehend experiences and insights rather than merely seeking emotional relief. This highlights the idea that writing serves a deeper purpose in making sense of the world and one’s thoughts, positioning it as a tool for clarity and self-discovery.
Themes
WritingUnderstandingCatharsisSelf-DiscoveryExpression
In practice
Example use cases
In a writing workshop, to motivate participants, one could say, 'Remember, as Didion said, writing helps us understand our thoughts.'
More from Joan Didion
All quotes →The truth is, it's easier for me to write than talk... to express the state I'm in at any time.
Joan DidionRead
Memories are what you no longer want to remember.
Joan DidionRead
It was clear, for example, in 1988 that the political process had already become perilously remote from the electorate it was meant to represent.
Joan DidionRead
I mean maybe I was holding all the aces, but what was the game?
Joan DidionRead
Do not whine... Do not complain. Work harder. Spend more time alone.
Joan DidionRead
Similar quotes
Above all, have a good time. If you aren’t enjoying writing it, you can hardly expect someone else to enjoy reading it.
Tom RobbinsRead
Semicolons . . . signal, rather than shout, a relationship. . . . A semicolon is a compliment from the writer to the reader. It says: "I don't have to draw you a picture; a hint will do."
George WillRead
Write every day, just to keep in the habit, and remember that whatever you have written is neither as good nor as bad as you think it is. Just keep going, and tell yourself that you will fix it later.
Jane SmileyRead
I do not like to write - I like to have written.
Gloria SteinemRead
This grant gave me more than memories; it gave me a crucial experience that is formative to all writers: the ability to perceive that we become writers in exile, where what we write is the only link across distance and time…I became a Maryland writer because the community of Juneau took me in.
Paula VogelRead
The most important thing in writing is to have written. I can always fix a bad page. I can't fix a blank one.
Nora RobertsRead