Annie Dillardisms

Although Annie Dillard’s article may seem heavy because she is up front about how often fiction books are published in comparison to non-fiction books, altogether the piece was enjoyable.  Her tone was that of a mentor or a teacher who lived her life doing the opposite of what she wrote about in the piece.  I imagined her throughout her life, writing down in her personal journal these notes to herself for future reference. Now, her notes have been shared to all of us.

            I appreciated the way this piece was written. It almost classifies as a list, but to me her words are more like "Dillardisms."  She provides helpful tips for young writers. Tips that will ultimately help any writer become a better one. Even though she makes it clear that fiction novels are hard to get published, I like the realistic point of view she gives young writers. Yes, it may be discouraging, but at least we will be better prepared for what is to come, especially if fiction is our forte or passion. 

            I found myself agreeing with many of these Dillardisms.  Since this piece felt conversational, I found myself writing notes to myself next to hers or asking her questions about her statement.  There were many lines I loved but the two that stood out to me as being very honest were, “The more you read, the more you will write. The better the stuff you read, the better the stuff you will write” (XVI) and “You need to know these things somewhere in the back of your mind, and you need to forget them and write whatever you’re going to write.” (XVII) Even though she provided tips, she recognizes that sometimes, the heart wants to write what it wants to write.  Let your words flow when you have them.  Ultimately, if you desire to write it, you should at least try to pen it down and give that thought some life. 

Angela Payaban