[One Thousand Characters a Day] The More I Write, The More I Become Myself <1>

Editor's NoteThere are times when one simply cannot help but write. Such moments arise when, in life, we inevitably encounter problems or become weary of mundane daily routines, making it hard to clearly see what we truly want. When turmoil stirs both inside and outside of us, nothing is as useful as writing. Sitting quietly and organizing chaotic thoughts can lighten a heavy heart. In her book As I Write, I Become Myself, author Son Hwa-shin candidly shares her own experiences and guides readers on how to write to better understand themselves. This includes looking inward to find writing material, crafting a unique style that highlights one’s distinct traits, and writing from one’s own perspective on the world. This process fosters self-reflection, healing, liberation, and self-esteem, motivating continued writing and ultimately transforming our lives. Word count: 1064.

There were two 30-minute breaks each day, and every time, the break room was packed with employees trying to catch even a brief nap. Among those who had fallen into a deep, tomb-like sleep, I would either quickly eat or sometimes skip meals altogether, opening a notebook to write something. If I didn’t do that, I simply couldn’t bear the feeling of fading away like a ghost.

"But as with everyone else, survival is not everything. So what began as a desperate effort became a shout calling out for something greater."

- Jessica Bruder, Nomadland, Ellie, 2021.

What started as a part-time job to earn money and survive ironically taught me that survival itself cannot be achieved by money alone. For me, that "something greater" was writing. Writing was survival itself, and I learned that whenever a moment came when I felt like I might vanish like smoke, writing was the way to protect myself. Such moments came several times in my life, and amid unannounced fear and crisis, I kept writing.

Whether writing, making music, painting, or dancing, whenever one expresses oneself through any medium, they truly exist as themselves. Not only that, but they can actively protect themselves. The fact that I know how to write, that I have my own language, encouraged me not to be intimidated even when the world absurdly confronted me. Through reading and writing, I gradually became less afraid of the world.

Words become a vast fortress surrounding the writer. For those without it, this is endlessly enviable. Placing oneself alone within one’s own world?knowing that wherever and whenever you are, you can fully remain inside that fortress?is a secret yet openly proud feeling only those who have written can understand. Meeting someone who writes is like entering their world, which becomes a significant event. Wandering through that world is a joy because there is so much to see. Whether it is a forest path or a garden, one swims through that world with an area proportional to their writing, breathing its air.

- Son Hwa-shin, As I Write, I Become Myself, Dasan Chodang, 14,000 KRW

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.