Is writing a solitary act?
Image courtesy: https://www.themarginalian.org/2018/12/10/emily-dickinson-love-letters-susan-gilbert/
It is one of the most immersive experience a writer goes through. All that she watches, observes and absorbs gets assimilated within and is manifested in words. Writers might choose to be silent for a while but that only means something is brewing.That space becomes so vital for a writer at times that she aggressively defends this right to sit in silence and choose to be away. I think artists are blessed with this space along with the will and desire to turn inwards and reflect.Coming back to the act of writing being an immersive experience – I would like to reiterate and endorse the thought that a writer or an artist is nothing without people, nature and surroundings.
But, it is solely the prerogative of a writer either go out; step out of the four walls or be in a closed space and write. Surprisingly, Emily Dickinson wrote 1,800 poems in her bedroom. So, she was away – in the midst of the same surroundings.
Image courtesy: https://lithub.com/the-light-as-she-saw-it-on-sitting-in-emily-dickinsons-bedroom/
Thus, an artist is a creator and can imagine so much more – irrespective of the surroundings.
An artist has a world within – so does it mean that when she writes it’s a lonely process and a solitary act?
Still confused!! 🙂
Let us attempt to answer this question!!
Hmm…a world within that no one else can see – yes, true. But when the writer shares this world, it doesn’t remain her own. It is shared with the universe. But the act of writing is surely about being alone and describes the need to reflect and then share.
Conclusively, writing is a lonely process!!
Any thoughts on this?
Share them!!
Love,
Rashmi Malapur