Metaphorical writing in memoirs conveys complex emotions. Balancing creativity and parenting enriches artistic work. Embracing impermanence fosters resilience in life's changes.
Deep dives
Writing Metaphorically in Memoir
Writing metaphorically in memoirs can help encapsulate complex emotions and experiences. Using metaphorical stack of Polaroids to describe the search for a definitive poem or life adds depth and invites reader interpretation.
Life and Writing Integration
Sarah Ruhl's insights on integrating life and writing resonated with the challenges faced by the author in balancing creativity and parenting. Viewing life's interruptions as integral to the writing process highlights the importance of incorporating personal experiences in creative work.
Acceptance of Uncertainty
The quote by Rilke, 'Let everything happen to you: beauty and terror, just keep going,' emphasizes the impermanence of emotions and situations. Acknowledging that feelings are transient allows for acceptance of uncertainty and navigating life's evolving circumstances with resilience.
Dealing with Rejection
Handling rejection involves understanding that personal worth isn't tied to every rejection. Recognizing editors' subjective preferences and the transient nature of rejection helps maintain perspective and resilience in the face of setbacks.
Favorite Word and Closing Remarks
The author appreciates vowel sounds like 'I,' 'A,' and 'OO,' but doesn't have a favorite word. Expressing a preference for evocative sounds over specific words reveals a deep connection to language's emotional resonance and openness to linguistic exploration.
Maggie Smith is the author of the national bestsellers Goldenrod and Keep Moving: Notes on Loss, Creativity, and Change, as well as Good Bones, named one of the Best Five Poetry Books of 2017 by the Washington Post and winner of the 2018 Independent Publisher Book Awards Gold Medal in Poetry; The Well Speaks of Its Own Poison, winner of the 2012 Dorset Prize and the 2016 Independent Publisher Book Awards Gold Medal in Poetry; and Lamp of the Body, winner of the 2003 Benjamin Saltman Award. Her new memoir is You Could Make This Place Beautiful.
