Most good essays are conversations with yourself - not just your decided thoughts but your dilemmas.
Phillip LopateDoubt is my boon companion, the faithful St. Bernard ever at my side. Whether writing essays or just going about daily life, I am constantly second-guessing myself. My mind is filled with 'yes, buts,' 'so whats?' and other skeptical rejoinders. I am forever monitoring myself for traces of folly, insensitivity, arrogance, false humility, cruelty, stupidity, immaturity and, guess what, I keep finding examples. Age has not made me wiser, except maybe in retrospect.
Phillip LopateI really do like to write and when I'm not, I think, "Okay, I'll be a good citizen now" but fact is, that's secondary.
Phillip Lopate