10 Comments

Oh I love this! For me, your writing is like a walk in the woods leading to a wild beach (and I've been up the Bealach na Ba too): leaves, humus, birdsong, fox poo, sky, fungi, wind, flotsam, jetsam, the smell of rot and salt. A rich, fecund, soul-nourishing experience. Thank you. I'm off to dig a ditch and get muddy while I'm in this mood.

Expand full comment

Congratulations on finishing!

'To add to the word-hoard and be part of the word-horde.' That particularly tickled me; surrounded as I am by hoard and horde.

My list:

• I generally don't

• When I absolutely must

• When it's to the communal good and I have the compulsion

Seems like I might be underusing this dark praxis...

Expand full comment

Join us on the dark side, Jack,

Expand full comment

Love your list! As I read it I realized I have a unacknowledged belief that there is or should be only one reason for writing. But of course, it’s way more interesting than that! There are always many reasons, maybe even reasons on a collision course with each other. It was fun to read your list and see which of your points resonates today. What great journal prompts they are too!

Expand full comment

Both your lists had me chuckling, and I’m so glad to be in your company. To quote the late, great John Berger, ‘the world is doubled by play’. Thank you for enlarging the world here.

Expand full comment

This is ever-so joyful Caroline. Thank you, thank you for writing.

Expand full comment

What a heart-opening brain-teasing delight. And thank you particularly for digressions within digressions, all leading to the lovely Ross Gay.

Expand full comment

I am also looking forward to reading Ross Gay when time allows me that pleasure.

Expand full comment

This is lovely, thank you.

Expand full comment

I’m going to read that list to my eldest, she loves to write and thinking about writing is just as fun x

Expand full comment