Why I Write...

I began to write as a child. Though I don’t remember exactly when I started and for what motive, I still recall the small notebook full of neatly hand-written passages. I have a passion for books and reading by nature, such a strong passion that I often find losing myself in bookstores and libraries. I read almost everything I can get my hands on. You may find this funny but I can say that I write because I read. When reading, one feels the need of responding to what one reads.

Time passed and the hectic life of a student and then a teacher blew away my writing habit until the day I came to study in Boston. I took a class called Writing Theories in ESL and it was the professor who re-inspired me. In this class, we read profusely and responded to the readings. The professor perused all our journals and diligently wrote very exciting comments which made us really want to write. Though we were not children at the time, we looked forward to reading her feedback like kids waiting for their mothers to come home from the market bringing them something to eat. Maybe the professor didn’t know how much she influenced us but she really did. She aroused again in me the passion of writing and I’m grateful to her for that. My staying in a foreign country also refreshed my soul. I took any available occasion to travel around immense America. But strangely enough, wherever I went, whatever I saw kept reminding me of my country and my hometown. I became more thoughtful and critical. I also realized with a shudder that the fast and eventful life in the US would wash away everything very soon unless I kept a record and I certainly did not want to lose those beautiful memories. I decided to take note of the things I observed from life, finding that the more I wrote, the more ideas came. My busy life in America merely allowed sufficient time for note taking and then I finished all the whole pieces back in Vietnam.

Upon coming back, one day, I happened to see an anouncement on my favorite Nha Dep Magazine about a writing contest. Seeing my writings in Boston suited the theme of the contest, I picked up one piece and sent to the contest, just for fun. Amazingly, my article was selected to the final, appeared on the magazine and then some time later while I was on a teaching tour in Danang, I got the news of my article winning a prize ( Chuyện về đàn vịt ở Public Garden). And I have been writing for magazines since then…

Now reading-writing has become something indispensable in my life. It is like exploring life and self. A man who writes will be able to touch upon the most intimate corner in his soul and enrich his heart. No, I don’t write to impress people. I write so that I can hear my inner voice...

Comments

[Doug]

I'd never thought of it quite like that before - I write because I read.

But, you are correct. reading evokes reaction - and that reaction is writing.

[cat]

Let write more pls. Because i enjoy all of them ...

[Hope]

I love your site! Thank you so much for including me on your list. What a wonderful way for me to keep in touch with my favorite country.

[Nguyen Hong Le]

Dear Duong Lam Anh,
Really impressed me with your article. I've never read Nha Dep magazine but I will.
Your thingking, life, soul and your peaceful home town all have moulded a really admired personality.

Le