Brutal Q&A

In my time, brutal meant cruel or savage, like the crucifixion, electric chair, or war. Today, young culture uses it to describe a scratch because to those who belong in this group, a scratch hurts like a deep wound.

Brutal is now a staple word among the youth. If an exam is difficult or a text message goes wrong, they say, “Brutal!” 

Sometimes, the word is also used to mean the opposite: excellent, powerful, or awe-inspiring. I hear my college students say “brutal truth” to signal that they are stripping away filters, even if the situation is uncomfortable. 

In this context, I am using the word brutal to describe a recent Q&A in one of my book talks.

Q: When did you start writing?

A. At birth. As far as I could remember, and as written by my mom in my baby book, “She is in love with writing. At age 5, she was writing stories.”

Q. Can you write when you’re angry or sad?

A. Especially when I am angry or sad. I furiously write my anger down; I tearfully write about my pain.

Q. What do you have that other writers do not have?

A. My faith, my experiences. Writing to me is not about syntax. It is about life.

Q. What is your best published book?

A. I do my best in writing every book. Same effort, same passion, same focus.

Q. When do you write?

A. From waking up to turning in—with pauses for reading, eating, praying, laughing, and reading in between.

Q. Can AI replicate you?

A. Never. AI can be a helpful assistant for facts and data, but it cannot replicate the grace of lived words that my readers can relate with, because at some point in time, they have experienced them too.

Q. What will make you stop writing?

A. Death. Or the second coming, whichever comes first.

Q. How old are you? 

A. . . . 

Brutal, indeed!