How Do You Feel About Your Writing?

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Aaron Carroll: It has been almost nine years since you were on this show. I have literally no recollection of what we talked about. One of the things that I was kind of curious about because it's rare to get to be talked to people at such long life intervals is how you feel like your writing has evolved over those nine years. Well, I do remember what story I was working on when I was interviewed by you nine years ago. And I think I went through two different phases and how I conceive of stories that have maybe changed since that time.

Rachel Aviv is a staff writer for The New Yorker. Her new book is Strangers to Ourselves: Unsettled Minds and the Stories That Make Us.

“I used to feel that if I knew everything, that was a good sign. And I've become more aware that if you know everything you want to argue, that's not such a good sign…. Do I have a genuine question? Is there something I’m trying to figure out? Then the story is worth telling. But if I don’t really have a question or if my question is already answered, then maybe that should give you pause.”

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