Anna Quindlen says that when Barry Jenkins was filming The Underground Railroad, he directed the actors to “Show me yourselves.” In other words, don’t act. Similarly, Quindlen recommends doing the kind of writing where you don’t posture for an audience. Just write the truth. Privately. For yourself. This is a rare book about writing that doesn’t aim to help you write something you can sell. Rather, it encourages you to “write for your life.” Engage in reflection that can lead to understanding or transformation. The point, she says, is to “reveal what lies within.” Give this gift to yourself.
Quindlen, Anna. Write for Your Life. Random House, 2022, p. 31.