What I think is important about essayists - about the essay, as opposed to a lot of personal writing that kind of finds its way into public view - is that the material really has to be presented in a processed way. Meghan Daum essayessayistfind share on social
For my part, if I'm working while flying, I'm often a bit relieved to be forced to shut down the computer on final descent. But I guess I'm a slacker. Meghan Daum bitecomputerdescent Change image and share on social
I loved Woody Allen's short pieces. I was equally influenced by Woody Allen and Norman Mailer. I was very into this idea of being high-low, of being serious and intellectual but also making really broad jokes. Meghan Daum allenbroadequally share on social
To me, having 'material' for an essay means not only having something to write about but also having something interesting and original to say about whatever that might be. Meghan Daum essayinterestmaterial Change image and share on social
If you must know, my parents came from pretty hardscrabble backgrounds in the southern Midwest. I certainly didn't grow up poor, but I did spend my 20s and early 30s juggling temp jobs and choking on massive student-loan debt. Meghan Daum 20s30sbackground share on social
We're not handed situations based on our established likes and dislikes; we get what's available. Meghan Daum basedislikeestablish Change image and share on social
As with 'feminism,' not to mention 'liberalism' and 'conservatism,' 'political correctness' tends to mean what you want it to mean, which also pretty much amounts to utter meaninglessness. Meghan Daum amountconservatismcorrectness Change image and share on social
Other dogs may do their jobs in their own unique and perfectly wonderful ways, but there will always be that dog that no dog will replace, the dog that will make you cry even when it's been gone for more years than it could ever have lived. Meghan Daum crydogjob share on social
Though I probably shouldn't admit this, the activities and pursuits in which I've achieved any measure of success are, without exception, activities and pursuits that came easily to me from the beginning. Meghan Daum achieveactivityadmit share on social
For me, writing essays is very much about processing ideas and offering them up to the reader so that they are fully cooked. Meghan Daum cookessayfully Change image and share on social
