I set this site up, intending to start putting all these random things to paper (or screen) and not really with a plan of what the end result would be. I’ve spent a lot of time pondering, remembering different people and places, and just generally trying to figure out what to write and how to write it. Putting things in print really forces you to sort them out and make them coherent, since the random jumble in your head would make no sense at all.
Some stories seem like they’d be easy to tell, it’s just a matter of jotting them down. But where to start? When you’re in a conversation with someone, there’s just a natural flow. The context is in place, and an anecdote just fits into that space. Here, it’s a more weighty decision. Do you pick a story that might be fun, but might seem pointless when outside of any context? Do you lay bare some heavy memory, that may have had a significant impact on you — or will it seem that you’re still dwelling on it, hoping for some sympathy or understanding? Then there’s the self-doubt. Why are my thoughts and memories even important enough to put to print?
Days later, I come back to this post. I’m just going to jot things down. Maybe they won’t all make sense, but they’ll be here. Maybe as the collection builds, some sort of coherence will form. Maybe pieces will just fall in to place. We’ll see.