The Daily Stoic Why Creativity Demands Discipline | “Good Bones” Poet Maggie Smith (PT. 2)
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Apr 5, 2025 
Bestselling author and poet Maggie Smith, known for her viral poem "Good Bones," dives deep into the intricacies of storytelling. She discusses how writers can navigate the thin line between honesty and protecting their truth. Empathy plays a crucial role in her work, emphasizing its necessity in both creativity and social justice. Maggie also explores the discipline required for creativity, highlighting how personal experiences, both joyful and painful, shape artistic expression while balancing commitments and the challenge of saying no.
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Restraint in Writing
- Writers should consider the impact of their words on others, practicing restraint even in memoirs.
- Maggie Smith emphasizes that a writer's responsibility extends beyond self-expression, acknowledging the potential for cruelty in unrestrained writing.
The Myth of the Tell-All
- The concept of a "tell-all" memoir is flawed; no memoir can truly reveal everything.
- Smith argues that memoirs offer a limited perspective, shaped by the writer's consciousness at the time of writing.
Protecting Others in Memoirs
- Writers must balance truth-telling with protecting others involved in their stories.
- Consider setting boundaries to protect those who haven't consented to being portrayed.
