We recently lost another terrific writer, Pat Conroy. The author of The Prince of Tides and The Great Santini, just to name two novels in his remarkable collection, delved into the complicated subjects of family and social relationships, connecting individuals to a larger historical narrative. He wrote, “The most powerful words in the English language are ‘Tell me a story’, words that are intimately related to the complexity of history, the origin of language, the continuity of the species, the taproot of our humanity, our singularity, and art itself.”
This quote sums up not only the importance of writing but that it is an art form of the highest level. Conroy never minced words. He explained, “I could not bear to think that I wrote a five-hundred page novel just because I needed to love my father . . . I loved my parents . . . but that can never change the fact that my father’s violence ruined my childhood.”
Conroy’s ability to weave stories braced by clear honesty and authenticity speaks to the idea that today’s writers have the capacity to strive for this as well. What an inspiration he has been to me as I pursue memoir, poetry, and essay. I highly recommend reading his work. The experience will help you fall in love all over again with storytelling.