--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I dont know where the idea originated…" description: "\"I dont know where the idea originated that memoir writing is cathartic. For me, its always felt like playing my own neurosurgeon, sans anesthesia. As a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/014/koren-zailckas-12998_anesthesia_i-dont-know-where-the-idea-originated-th_833264.jpg" --- # I dont know where the idea originated that memoir writing… ![“I dont know where the idea originated that memoir writing is cathartic. For me, its always felt like playing my own neurosurgeon, sans anesthesia. As a memoirist, you have to crack your head open and examine every uncomfortable thing in there.” quote by Koren Zailckas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/014/koren-zailckas-12998_anesthesia_i-dont-know-where-the-idea-originated-th_833264.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/014/koren-zailckas-12998_anesthesia_i-dont-know-where-the-idea-originated-th_833264.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/014/koren-zailckas-12998_anesthesia_i-dont-know-where-the-idea-originated-th_833264.jpg) > “I dont know where the idea originated that memoir writing is cathartic. For me, its always felt like playing my own neurosurgeon, sans anesthesia. As a memoirist, you have to crack your head open and examine every uncomfortable thing in there.” [Koren Zailckas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/koren-zailckas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Memoir writing is likened to performing self-surgery without anesthesia, exposing painful truths for growth. **In simple terms:** Writing memoirs is a painful but revealing self‑examination. Key Takeaway Embrace discomfort to uncover deeper truth. Themes writing self‑exploration healing Mood introspective cathartic Type literary psychological When to use this quote - personal essays - therapy sessions - creative workshops Key Concepts catharsis psychological insight Questions to Reflect On - What truths are you willing to confront? - How do you protect yourself while being honest? A Different Perspective The process can be emotionally destabilizing without support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cathartic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cathartic/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Memoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memoir/) [Neurosurgeons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neurosurgeons/) [Uncomfortable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncomfortable/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I don't know where the idea originated that memoir writing is cathartic. For me, it's always felt like playing my own neurosurgeon, sans anesthesia.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/koren-zailckas/i-don-t-know-where-the-idea-originated-that-memoir-writing-is/) [Koren Zailckas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/koren-zailckas/) > [I don't know where the idea originated that memoir writing is cathartic. For me, it's always felt like playing my own neurosurgeon, sans anesthesia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/koren-zailckas/i-don-t-know-where-the-idea-originated-that-memoir-writing-is-2/) [Koren Zailckas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/koren-zailckas/) > [I'd written Smashed not because I was ambitious and not because writing down my feelings was cathartic (it felt more like playing one's own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/koren-zailckas/i-d-written-smashed-not-because-i-was-ambitious-and-not-because/) [Koren Zailckas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/koren-zailckas/) > [You write fiction, you're writing memoir, and when you're writing memoir, you're writing fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/you-write-fiction-you-re-writing-memoir-and-when-you-re-writing/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [All my journalism, all my books are first person, and it's all memoir. Even when I'm writing about the oil spill in the Gulf,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-heller/all-my-journalism-all-my-books-are-first-person-and-it-s-all-memoir/) [Peter Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-heller/) > [“Memoir writing draws on all aspects of who we are, body, mind and soul. We are challenged to dig deep, to remember, and once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rossandra-white/memoir-writing-draws-on-all-aspects-of-who-we-are-body-mind-and-soul/) Rossandra White > [There's a difference between doing memoir and writing a novel. If I had put the story of the boy killing my dog - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-auster/there-s-a-difference-between-doing-memoir-and-writing-a-novel-if-i/) [Paul Auster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-auster/) > [“Writing is the most cathartic experience of my life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/april-wood/writing-is-the-most-cathartic-experience-of-my-life/) April Wood > [I've been doing some writing, which I find very cathartic and fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cary-elwes/i-ve-been-doing-some-writing-which-i-find-very-cathartic-and-fun/) [Cary Elwes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cary-elwes/) > [Mostly singing was cathartic, writing was cathartic, therapeutic. 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It holds within its humming mechanism secrets that will determine the future of the human race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilder-penfield/the-brain-is-the-organ-of-destiny-it-holds-within-its-humming/) [Wilder Penfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilder-penfield/) ## More by Koren Zailckas > [My short stature may have something to do with my tendency to shout when enraged. How else is anyone going to hear me way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/koren-zailckas/my-short-stature-may-have-something-to-do-with-my-tendency-to-shout/) [Koren Zailckas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/koren-zailckas/) > [I grew up in a family that despised displays of strong emotion, rage in particular. We stewed. We sulked. When arguments did occur, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/koren-zailckas/i-grew-up-in-a-family-that-despised-displays-of-strong-emotion-rage/) [Koren Zailckas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/koren-zailckas/) > [I think when you're 14 years old, I think you're sort of looking for markers that prove you're an adult and you're independent of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/koren-zailckas/i-think-when-you-re-14-years-old-i-think-you-re-sort-of-looking-for/) [Koren Zailckas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/koren-zailckas/) > [What makes a narcissistic mother so scary? Her absolute power and controlling influence. A narcissistic mother is your only 'friend,' at least until you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/koren-zailckas/what-makes-a-narcissistic-mother-so-scary-her-absolute-power-and/) [Koren Zailckas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/koren-zailckas/) > [“Instead of seeing bad in yourself, you perceive it in others. It’s a defense mechanism. 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For me, it's always felt like playing my own neurosurgeon, sans anesthesia.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/koren-zailckas/i-don-t-know-where-the-idea-originated-that-memoir-writing-is/) [Koren Zailckas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/koren-zailckas/) > [Since I've quit drinking, I'm not sure I've found the good life, but I've certainly uncovered a better one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/koren-zailckas/since-i-ve-quit-drinking-i-m-not-sure-i-ve-found-the-good-life-but-i/) [Koren Zailckas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/koren-zailckas/) > [Like most women, I remember my first drink in tender minutiae.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/koren-zailckas/like-most-women-i-remember-my-first-drink-in-tender-minutiae/) [Koren Zailckas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/koren-zailckas/) > [“One night, Tess finds me sobbing during the health segment of the evening news. Scientists have discovered scarred cells from cardiac arrest fall away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/koren-zailckas/one-night-tess-finds-me-sobbing-during-the-health-segment-of-the/) [Koren Zailckas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/koren-zailckas/) > [I am aware that somewhere along the line, I've subconsciously turned down the pitch of my speech, like a silencer of a gun that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/koren-zailckas/i-am-aware-that-somewhere-along-the-line-i-ve-subconsciously-turned/) [Koren Zailckas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/koren-zailckas/) > [“For the next four years, they will again and again tout themselves as “real” and I will be too naïve to know that anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/koren-zailckas/for-the-next-four-years-they-will-again-and-again-tout-themselves-as/) [Koren Zailckas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/koren-zailckas/) [Explore all 52 Koren Zailckas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/koren-zailckas/) ## More Anesthesia quotes > [“Shaw also said, alcohol is the anesthesia by which we endure the operation of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-finn/shaw-also-said-alcohol-is-the-anesthesia-by-which-we-endure-the/) [A.J. 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For me, it's always felt like playing my own neurosurgeon, sans anesthesia.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/koren-zailckas/i-don-t-know-where-the-idea-originated-that-memoir-writing-is/) [Koren Zailckas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/koren-zailckas/) > [To write poetry, like sincere poetry, it is like performing heart surgery on yourself without anesthesia...in public...You are peeling back layers. You are dissecting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amir-sulaiman/to-write-poetry-like-sincere-poetry-it-is-like-performing-heart/) Amir Sulaiman > [“Learn to be fast now. You can learn to be good later.” In the OR, everyone’s eyes are always on the clock. 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