A student of mine committed suicide yesterday. She was the mother of two. All this worry about writing seems like nonsense today.
A student of mine committed suicide yesterday. She was the mother of two. All this worry about writing seems like nonsense today.
Marta Pelrine-Bacon 
I’m sorry, Marta. I’ll pray for the children and you.
Thank you, Darc.
I’m sorry about your student. As Darc said, we will be praying for her loved ones, and for you. Dealing with the loss a suicide brings is quite different than coping with deaths of other types. It always brings it’s own – much higher – level of guilt, as though we could have done something to stop it.
This student and her children are from Korea. Her husband was working in Korea and has had to fly here to take care of everything. I can only imagine what a nightmare flight that must have been for him.
As long as you don’t let go of the beauty and gift that is creativity Marta- you offer so much to the world. Let go of the worry- keep the solace.
I certainly never want to let go of the creativity. I want to let go of the worry. What is the point of all the worry?
Oh No. I’m so sorry.
But I have to say that writing and teaching others to write, to communicate their own stories is not nonsense.
I don’t know what was going on in her life that she felt she had to end it, but writing saves many people. It gives them a voice. It helps them understand who they are and what this world is about.
Writing, your writing in particular, is beautiful in part because it is about connection, something I’m betting your student felt she lacked.
I don’t mean that writing is nonsense. Writing is never nonsense. But the worry, the doubt, the anxiety over whether every word is right and if query letters are perfect and all that. Just seems silly.
Perspective indeed. I’m so sorry, Marta.
Thank you, JES.