Escaping through your words

“I'm always terrified when I'm writing.” – Mary Karr

Karr’s sentiment probably echoes all who take pen in hand or pull up to a keyboard or typewriter to put words on paper and begin the creative process.

Born in Groves, Texas on this date in 1955, Karr brought her early years to life in the New York Times bestselling  memoirs, The Liars' Club.   The book delves vividly and often humorously into her deeply troubled childhood, most of which was spent in a gritty industrial section of Southeast Texas. 

The author of 2 other memoirs, Cherry; and Lit: A Memoir, she also has had great successes as both a poet (4 volumes to date) and essayist.  She has won the prestigious Whiting Award, a Guggenheim Fellowship in poetry, and the Pushcart prize for both her poetry and her essays.

“Young writers often mistakenly choose a certain vein or style based on who they want to be, unconsciously trying to blot out who they actually are. You want to escape yourself,” Karr said. 

        “The thing I have to do as a writer, and that God permits me to do, is that I have to be willing to fail.”

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