The official blog of Michelle Tuckett, word ninja.

Every Sunday, I choose a passage of wisdom from someone who knows better and much more than I do about writing, life, the universe and/or everything.

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“We write to expose the unexposed . If there is one door in the castle you have been told not to go through, you must. Otherwise, you’ll just be rearranging furniture in rooms you’ve already been in. Most human beings are dedicated to keeping that one door shut. But the writer’s job is to see what’s behind it, to see the bleak unspeakable stuff, and to turn the unspeakable into words – not just into any words but if we can, into rhythm and blues.

You can’t do this without discovering your own true voice, and you can’t find your true voice and peer behind the door and report honestly and clearly to us if your parents are reading over your shoulder. They are probably the ones who told you not to open that door in the first place. You can tell they’re there because a small voice will say, ” Oh whoops, don’t say that, that’s a secret,” or “That’s a bad word,” or “Don’t tell anyone you jack off. They’ll all start doing it.” so you have to breathe or pray or do therapy and send them away. Write like your parents are dead. ”

-Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird