"Why I Write" or "Why I Write"? - The Battle of Orwell & Didion

Orwell's piece definitely resonated more with me, though I think I liked Didion's piece more. Orwell, though clever in actually demonstrating the four motives he describes, seems to be very cynical and a little bit arrogant, though that might just be the "sheer egoism" he was trying to satisfy in writing this essay. After discussing the essay and finding all of the examples he used to prove his points, I can't really decide whether I was hearing Orwell's voice or just his ideas about what other people do when writing. However, I think his piece did have solid ideas and I found it extremely interesting. It made sense to me, and I could picture him as a little boy narrating his entire existence in his head. I think the reason that his had more of an impact on me and my way of thinking was that I've often wondered about the true motives of authors when they write - whether they are truly just writing to tell their story, whether they just want to become well-known, or whether they are trying to secretly get a message across. Seeing my thoughts put into words (words that make much more sense and sound much prettier than when I attempt to say them) helped to solidify them. I also think that Orwell's essay resonated more with me because he had known that he wanted to be a writer from very early on in his life, which I respect a lot. As a child, I wanted to be a veterinarian, an actress, a singer, a model, and a lawyer, and now I have no idea what my future holds. The fact that Orwell felt that writing was his destiny makes him seem that much more credible and real.

Didion's piece, though I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, didn't make as much sense to me. I think very logically and know how to stay focused on the task at hand, so I couldn't understand why she struggled so much with "thinking" and "ideas." It seemed to me that she did very well with ideas, just the wrong ones for whatever she was doing. I also don't understand how writing can just let everything out for some people. I know it happens, but I just can't do it. I feel the same way about drawing- I've tried leaving my hand free to sketch whatever it feels like sketching, and I end up with a blank sheet of paper and extreme boredom. But I'm glad for Ms. Didion that she found a way to channel her thoughts into something that she can actually understand, even though I don't really get it.