How We Spend Our Lives
“When you write, you lay out a line of words. The line of words is a miner’s pick, a woodcarver’s gouge, a surgeon’s probe. You wield it, and it digs a path you follow. Soon you find yourself deep in new territory.” (qtd. in Dillard 3) This quote from Annie Dillard, in her book The Writing Life, vividly portrays the experience of every writer. Throughout her beloved account, Dillard depicts her life as an author and the obstacles she overcomes. Her broad vocabulary and lucid descriptions captivate the reader’s mind. Dillard’s knowledge and love for the subject of writing is made obvious. After intently reading and annotating in Dillard’s book, her writing greatly influenced me. I am entranced by her unique comparisons and conversant observations. Her reflections offer heedful …show more content…
“Your freedom as a writer is not freedom of expression in the sense of wild blurting; you may not let rip. It is life at its most free, if you are fortunate enough to try it, because you select your materials, invent your task, and pace yourself.” (qtd. in Dillard 11) In this, Dillard expresses her true freedom while writing. It is one of life’s most freeing moments: composing a work that is completely your own with no limitations. She also recalls the early years of her life, chopping wood to keep warm. Dillard masterfully compares her memory to the writing process. She says, “Aim for the chopping block. If you aim for the wood, you will have nothing. Aim past the wood, aim through the wood; aim for the chopping block.” (qtd. in Dillard 59) This metaphor suggests that she realized her focus was in the wrong place. Dillard should get her through the wood, rather than just on its edges. It instructs the reader to prioritize the main point of a work and ignore unnecessary details. Through her reflections, the reader can retrieve much information about her life as a
“When you write, you lay out a line of words. The line of words is a miner’s pick, a woodcarver’s gouge, a surgeon’s probe. You wield it, and it digs a path you follow. Soon you find yourself deep in new territory.” (qtd. in Dillard 3) This quote from Annie Dillard, in her book The Writing Life, vividly portrays the experience of every writer. Throughout her beloved account, Dillard depicts her life as an author and the obstacles she overcomes. Her broad vocabulary and lucid descriptions captivate the reader’s mind. Dillard’s knowledge and love for the subject of writing is made obvious. After intently reading and annotating in Dillard’s book, her writing greatly influenced me. I am entranced by her unique comparisons and conversant observations. Her reflections offer heedful …show more content…
“Your freedom as a writer is not freedom of expression in the sense of wild blurting; you may not let rip. It is life at its most free, if you are fortunate enough to try it, because you select your materials, invent your task, and pace yourself.” (qtd. in Dillard 11) In this, Dillard expresses her true freedom while writing. It is one of life’s most freeing moments: composing a work that is completely your own with no limitations. She also recalls the early years of her life, chopping wood to keep warm. Dillard masterfully compares her memory to the writing process. She says, “Aim for the chopping block. If you aim for the wood, you will have nothing. Aim past the wood, aim through the wood; aim for the chopping block.” (qtd. in Dillard 59) This metaphor suggests that she realized her focus was in the wrong place. Dillard should get her through the wood, rather than just on its edges. It instructs the reader to prioritize the main point of a work and ignore unnecessary details. Through her reflections, the reader can retrieve much information about her life as a