Bears Quote by Meghan Daum
![“I feel that I'm an essayist and that my best work gets done in that form. I wanted to do a book where the essays could exist on their own terms. A book that was neither a book of essays that were shoehorned into a memoir, nor [one where] the essays had been published elsewhere first, [because]…” quote by Meghan Daum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/107/meghan-daum-18332_bears_i-feel-that-i-m-an-essayist-and-that-my_1054935.jpg)
“I feel that I'm an essayist and that my best work gets done in that form. I wanted to do a book where the essays could exist on their own terms. A book that was neither a book of essays that were shoehorned into a memoir, nor [one where] the essays had been published elsewhere first, [because] then they would kind of bear the marks of those publications.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: "The Art of the Essay" with Meghan Daum, 2022
She believes essays are her strongest medium and wants a collection that stands alone, not forced into memoir or reprinted elsewhere.
In simple terms: Essays work best when they’re original and self‑contained.
Key Takeaway
Create a fresh, cohesive essay collection.
Themes
creativity
authenticity
literary form
Mood
reflective
determined
Type
literary
inspirational
When to use this quote
- author workshops
- literary magazines
- personal projects
- academic syllabi
Key Concepts
essay writing
publishing strategy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you ensure each essay feels complete on its own?
- What risks arise when essays are repurposed?
A Different Perspective
Balancing personal narrative with essay independence can be tricky.
![“The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the formulas of nations at war, where any heinousness is justified on the grounds that the enemy is either an inferior [part of the] species or…” quote by Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/895/kate-millett-7301_accompany_the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imp_8896.jpg)
