"So why does our writing matter, again?" they ask.
Because of the spirit, I say. Because of the heart. Writing and reading decrease our sense of isolation. They deepen and widen and expand our senses of life: they feed the soul. <...> We are given a shot at dancing with, or at least clapping along with, the absurdity of life, instead of being squashed by it over and over again. It's like singing on a boat during a terrible storm at the sea. You can't stop raging storm, but singing can change the hearts and spirits of the people who are together on that ship.