The Writing Life, Annie Dillard

Dillard, Annie. The Writing Life. New York: Quality Paperback Book Club, 1989.

Annie Dillard looks at her own approach to writing in The Writing Life. She considers why and how she writes. She considers what has worked for her in the past and what has not. She invites the reader into her head as she recalls different writing experiences and whether or not they were successful.

The text, although an enjoyable read, can meander to places unexpected – she spends considerable energy discussing pilot, Dave Rahm. Her purpose for this analogy, in my opinion could have been accomplished in half the pages she has allotted.

The last chapter of the book is a complete puzzle, it seems to simply be attached and not part of the preceding narrative in any way. I was left wondering how to piece it all together—which may have been Dillard’s intent—How, in fact, does a writer piece it all together?

The Writing Life is paced in a typically Dillard way. She dances around it using the language to paint pictures for her reader. And while the pictures are always beautiful, they don’t necessarily help the reader understand what the writing life entails. And then there are profound passages that nail the issue.

Dillard always seems to me to be more philosopher that non-fiction writer, and that works for her in the book. She is looking at the hows and whys of becoming a writer. She does so successfully.