Writing for Yourself
In "Writing for Yourself," Peggy Mathiason, takes us on a personal journey through her eclectic writing process. Explore her catch-all corners filled with scribbled thoughts, her notebooks overflowing with ideas, and her journals filled with raw emotions. Discover why she writes for herself, the lessons she learns, and the joy she finds in the simple act of putting pen to paper. Whether you're a writer seeking inspiration or simply curious about the creative process, Peggy's candid reflections will resonate and perhaps even ignite a spark of creativity within you. Join her on this exploration of self-discovery.
WRITING FOR YOURSELF
Most writers, if they are honest with themselves, will admit that every time they put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard), they are on another quest of self-discovery.
I have several eclectic writing styles. Like Ellery in The Lost Prairie, I scribble on slips of paper, random words, sentences, and sometimes even whole paragraphs, and throw the papers into different catch-all corners. Many days or years later, when I find them, I will puzzle over the meaning of those words that once seemed so important. Sometimes it will evade me. Sometimes I’ll realize I have “outgrown” the thought I expressed or the idea I wished to pursue. Other times (not often, I’ll admit) a lightbulb comes on and I think, “Brilliant thought!”
I have notebooks stashed in different places, and they contain a motley assortment of writings: story or play outlines, song lyrics and poetry I’ve written, sewing designs and how-tos for their construction, research into every topic that interests me, letters to the world, and letters to God.
There isn’t any order to these musings because I write things as they pop up. A great challenge for me is to organize these thoughts, if there’s any benefit to doing so. The occasion often arises when I want to find some tidbit I’ve written…in some notebook…somewhere…
I have journals, but my writing in them is hit-and-miss. I’ll spew out emotions, ideas, diatribes, thoughts, and plans for several days, and then there will be weeks of silence from my pen.
Occasionally, I write letters to keep for a while, only to tear them into small pieces months later. This is usually a wise move.
One of the mysteries of life that I contemplate (and there are many) is: Will anyone ever read this mishmash when I am gone?
I, who am almost a minimalist in life, am a maximalist with words. Do these words mean anything to anyone else? Will they ever?
I write for myself.
I write to learn, I write to remember, to teach myself a lesson. I write to describe, to imagine, to transcend, and to re-experience.
If my words touch someone else, it is icing on the cake. I think icing is pretty satisfying and euphoric, isn’t it?
