“I Do Not Know What I Think Until I Read What I’m Writing“
Unveiling Thoughts Through Writing
Writers often find themselves in a paradoxical situation. The assumption is that thoughts precede writing. However, many discover their true thoughts only while putting pen to paper. This intriguing idea has captivated writers for decades, suggesting that writing is not just a tool for recording thoughts but a means of uncovering them.
The notion manifests in two primary expressions: “I write to find out what I think” and “I don’t know what I think until I read what I write.” Both highlight writing as an exploratory tool, not just a transcription of pre-formed ideas.
The Literary Origins
In 1948, Southern Gothic writer Flannery O’Connor shared this concept in a letter to her literary agent. She explained her method of writing without a detailed outline, needing to write to discover her story’s direction. O’Connor referenced an older tradition, indicating this idea’s roots extend beyond her own use.
The concept dates back to the 1920s, with educator Graham Wallas attributing a similar sentiment to a young girl. Novelist E.M. Forster also echoed this thought, both focusing initially on spoken rather than written expression. Writing, however, offers unique advantages for thought development. Its permanence allows for reflection and revision, unlike spoken words.
Writing as Discovery
By the late 1940s, this idea permeated various creative fields. In 1959, actress Inger Stevens discussed her personal writing practice as a way to discover her thoughts. This concept expanded beyond professional writing to personal journaling.
Journalist August Heckscher, in 1963, admitted that he uncovered his thoughts by reading what he had written the day before. This was significant for an editorial writer, as their role typically requires pre-formed opinions.
Economist Paul Samuelson, in 1969, described writing as a risky intellectual endeavor. He mused that writing forecasts revealed his thoughts, emphasizing the gap between writing and understanding.
Mid-Century Literary Adoption
In the 1970s, writers like Joan Didion and E.L. Doctorow expressed similar sentiments. Didion, in her essay “Why I Write,” expanded the concept to include observation and desire. Doctorow noted that writing revealed not only his thoughts but the nature of his work itself.
Screenwriter John Gregory Dunne acknowledged the saying’s long lineage, describing writers as working by instinct without explicit understanding of their projects.
Misattributions and Expansions
The phrase has often been misattributed to figures like William Faulkner, despite lacking documentation during his lifetime. Instead, it likely originated from Flannery O’Connor’s documented use.
Playwrights like Edward Albee and Wendy Wasserstein also resonated with this idea. They used writing to explore and understand their thoughts, with Albee describing plays emerging in his mind long before being written.
Conclusion: A Writer’s Journey
This sentiment, shared across decades and disciplines, highlights a universal truth about the creative process. Writing serves not merely to record thoughts but to generate and clarify them. It acts as both a mirror and a catalyst, allowing writers to explore and understand their ideas.
Flannery O’Connor’s articulation of this process in 1948 serves as an early documented example within the writing community. Her insight, echoed by many, underscores writing as a vital tool for discovery and comprehension, revealing thoughts that remain hidden until expressed through words.