Writing Philosophy

“The freedom to imagine that as yet unimaginable work in front of others, moving them to still more action you can’t imagine, that is the point of writing, to me. You may think it is humility to imagine your work doesn’t matter. It isn’t. Much the way you don’t know what a writer will go on to write, you don’t know what a reader, having read you, will do.”

Alexander Chee, 2018


This quote resonates with me as I think of my own aspirations for writing.

On one end of the spectrum, are efforts sprinkled in cities and neighborhoods in isolation, attempts to tackle issues of inequality and social justice that have the potential to scale significantly, but not presently getting much attention. I research those, bring them to the forefront and emphasize their transformational potential. On the other end, are new ideologies and frameworks that can facilitate understanding of ongoing societal practices and phenomenon. I hypothesize about them, draw conclusions and share my lessons learned to audiences beyond me.

Some days, I am challenged by the desire to cultivate an empathetic society.

On others, I am drawn to the act of expressing myself through the process of writing, partake in its pure joy or heal from it.

Publications

Better Buses Needed in Bayview-Hunters Point, Streetsblog SF, March 2023 (co-authored)

A robust transit system in the Bayview-Hunters Point is needed to sustain community self-reliance and agency, San Francisco Transit Riders Blog, March 2023 (co-authored)

The Dream State of Writing, Litcrawl (Litquake Reading Event), October 2022