Shifting Roles, Mimesis, Sustaining Community

The process of forming identity is related to mimesis or imitation, which is a form of play. At an early age, we are comfortable with playing multiple roles. As we mature, we often settle into a dominate role that restricts our potential. When writing nonfiction, we can move through a variety of roles as we shift the perspective of our “I.” Shifting roles in our writing allows us to explore, create, and sustain our connection to communities.