'My Shame Makes Writing Impossible'

Don't buy into the myth that misery is more noble than joy.

A Dark Pool (1918) by Laura Knight

Dear Polly,

I am a writer by trade. I have never doubted my ability to express whatever I need to express with words.

Yet I tried to write you a letter about justice, about my place in its progress, about my neurotic late-night attacks on my own being as an imperfect purveyor of justice... and I just couldn't do it. So I'…