June 18

From the big book of essays on the writer's life which I am reading for the MA program, is an essay written by Tim O'Brien, called "The Magic Show."

I'm going to share with you my favorite part of this essay which I believe is true.

"...I must also believe that writing is an act of faith. Faith in the heuristic power of the imagination. Faith in the fertility of dream. Faith that as writers we might discover that which cannot be known through empirical means. (The notions of right and wrong, for instance. Good and evil. Ugliness and beauty.) Faith in story itself. Faith that a story will lead, in some way to epiphany or understanding or enlightenment. In the most practical sense, just to begin a story involves a great leap of faith that the first imagined event will somehow lead to the next, that chapter two will somehow follow upon chapter one. Faith that language will continue to serve us day to day. Faith that a story will take us somewhere--in the plot sense, in the thematic sense--and that the destination will be worth the journey."

So- here's to having faith! Cheers!