"I wanted to write stories for myself. At first it was purely an aesthetic thing about craft. I just wanted to become good at the art of something. And writing was very private"

Amy Tan is expressing her desire to compose stories for herself. She was motivated by the craft of writing and wanted to end up being good at it. Composing was a private activity for her, something that she could provide for herself and not have to share with anybody else. She was drawn to the aesthetic of composing and wished to end up being a master of the art. Writing was a way for her to reveal her ideas and sensations without needing to share them with anyone else. It was a method for her to explore her imagination and discover her own voice. Composing was a way for her to discover her own identity and to create something that was uniquely hers.