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I’ve just started putting my personal essays out into the world again, and when I posted one yesterday I was reminded of a Donna Tartt interview (a rare occurrence, she never talks to anyone) where she says that once a thing is in the hands of a reader, it doesn't really belong to her anymore.

Ami Berger

@amiberger.bsky.social

Here's the Tartt quote: "The writer provides the scaffolding and holds the reader's hand to lead them in – while the reader provides the daydreams and memories and wishes that fill out the structure, so that the book takes on somewhat the shape of the reader's mind."

9/8/26, 8:12 pm0 reposts8 likes

Ami Berger

@amiberger.bsky.social

9 Aug

I got a lot of positive feedback about the thing yesterday, which was nice, but it was also FASCINATING to watch how the different threads in the essay landed with different people.

Ami Berger

@amiberger.bsky.social

9 Aug

Some people told me it made them wistful for their own childhoods. Some people resonated with the toxic masculinity callout. Others sent me heartfelt condolences on our poor ailing doggo, who has a cameo in there.

Ami Berger

@amiberger.bsky.social

9 Aug

It makes sense that the reaction was all over the place because the essay itself is all over the place because my brain is all over the place. But it was a good reminder that the point of making a thing isn't necessarily about sharing your heart and mind, it's about showing someone else their own.