Anne Lamott, in the introduction to her book Bird by Bird says,
Writing has so much give, so much to teach, so many surprises. That thing you had to force yourself to do–the actual act of writing–turns out to be the best part. It’s like discovering that while you thought you need the tea ceremony for the caffeine, what you really needed was the tea ceremony. The act of writing turns out to be its own reward.
What do you think about this idea? I know that I see more clearly when I notice the light playing on the fields when I think about how I can best capture the moment in a poem. I know that when I create a scene between characters, it feels like my imaginary friends are just telling me about their day. I know that I see everything as a story or a poem, but I’m not sure that the act of sitting down and typing brings me anything beyond satisfaction. It’s not stitching together heart break (though it has). It’s not helping me make sense of a challenging situation (but it has). I know a supreme satisfaction from enjoying the result, but it’s discovering that result that brings it. Hmm.
How about you? Is the act of writing its own reward for you? Why?
Shawn L. Bird 