Comments on: Why I Write

By: Stephen Elliott

Stephen Elliott — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 06:27:18 +0000

Thanks Liz!

By: liz

liz — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:29:23 +0000

Hi Stephen. I saw you in the DIY movie and was inspired to buy “The Adderall Diaries”, which I LOVE, and that book led me to this website, where I became quickly and fully obsessed! In a good way! Thank you for inspiring me!

By: Dean Gammon

Dean Gammon — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:51:20 +0000

Stephen, I have just finished reading Adderall Diaries. This is now the third book of yours that i have read. I feel it is your best to date surpassing Habby Baby. i have written a personal letter on how this has impacted on me. Is it possible that i can send this to you, either email or letter. I am in the UK. i hope this is not too intrusive!

By: Tom Lombardi

Tom Lombardi — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 15:16:20 +0000

Kafka used to say writing is a form of prayer. That’s exactly what this piece is. It’s beautifully said.

Thanks for the illumination and wisdom, Stephen!

By: Sam Jasper

Sam Jasper — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:59:12 +0000

Thanks Steve. I was the woman who ran out of the building at the end of your reading in New Orleans. I found myself clutching a pillar outside the place muttering, “Secrets and Lies” over and over again. Thought I was having a total come apart because you hit some things so close to the bone for me. My friends took me out, gave me liquor, calmed me down, and we talked—about writing–for hours. I then went home and started reading Adderall Diaries. I didn’t move until it was finished.

Since then, although I’m still struggling, I have decided that there will be no more “some people might remember it differently” for me. I am considering a new bit of ink that says, No Equivocation. Gotta find room for that somewhere. It’s a hell of a thing to get there finally so late in the game, but better late as they say.

Perhaps I should have them tattoo it across my saggy butt, and leave a needle tip in there so everytime I sit down I get a zap reminding me of those two words. Nah, too extreme even for me.

Thank you so much. I don’t know how to write naturally about anything but what I see or how I feel about what I see. I thought for a very long time that I was an anamoly. You’ve made me feel far less so.

BTW loved Adderall even if I did hyperventilate while reading certain passages that seemed torn out of my own life.

By: Sean M. Poole

Sean M. Poole — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:36:15 +0000

Bravo, Stephen! Excellent article. I reckon I am about as far underground and outside of the margin as a writer can be! I haven’t read your work yet but I will now. Check out my book on the website http://www.artbyantoniogattorno.com
Let me know if you’re interested in a trade. Sometimes not being an independent restricts a writer’s ability to swap books with others. If that’s the case, don’t worry about it. Are you familiar with Billy Childish or Irving Stettner? Two profoundly different writers, each with some stuff thats well worth the read! Peace…
Sean

By: Melissa Strong

Melissa Strong — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:20:55 +0000

I bought your book at the reading you gave in New Orleans at Antenna, spent the next day reading it – thank you again for signing it. Now I have stumbled upon your essay as I look to buy The Adderall Diaries. You have a fine craft.

By: Megan

Megan — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 23:45:29 +0000

I love this. I’m inspired. I’m going to write right now.

By: Richard

Richard — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:37:27 +0000

Wow. This leaves me sick to my stomach but also inspired. You speak the truth, brother, but it isn’t always easy to hear. It makes me want to go write. Thanks for all that you put out here, Stephen. You are an inspiration.

Peace,
Richard
Neo-noir

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 22:18:06 +0000

Thanks, Steve–remembering hearing you rap in ‘04 at 826 Valencia on Mission at a nonfiction panel Dave Eggers organized, about how you filled your notebooks with stuff and that you only used one quarter of that eventually. One of the things I’m working on is persona in a writing voice, authority–saying something because it needs to be said and not qualifying anything or looking over your shoulder, knowing it is a partial truth but still belongs to you.

I return to the river of inspiration. It’s always flowing, and I ignore it at my peril, and it’s like faith, somehow, believing that the practice of both writing and sending stuff out is like breathing, inhaling and exhaling into the world. Because you can’t not do it. What comes out of that–you trust the process. You return to what needs to be said.

I just got back from my first writer’s colony, and I’m finishing up my MFA, considering going on the academic market. I also struggle with depression and I write about it as well. Your piece brought me back to my core, away from impressing people at the dinner table at the colony or trying to be a perfect teacher. I’m a good teacher when I’m doing my own writing. Like you said, writing helps me deal with everything else.

Keep writing real, your real.
Joanthan