“The most important thing that I have learned, or that I’m trying to learn, is to give up perfectionism, because when you keep trying to make the story do all the things you want it to do, you keep failing, and you end up going around and around in circles. You end up confusing yourself and your talent, and you begin to view things as a failure, even though they’re not failures.” Akhil Sharma, interviewed by Gabriel Packard, The Writer magazine July 2015. Akhil Sharma is the 2015 Folio Prize winner and professor of creative writing.
Category: Quotes
Things falling apart is a kind of testing . . .
Pema Chodron, When Things Fall Apart: “Things falling apart is a kind of testing and also a kind of healing. We think that the point is to pass the test or to overcome the problem, but the truth is that things don’t really get solved. They come together and they fall apart. Then they come together again and fall apart again. It’s just like that. The healing comes from letting there be room for all of this to happen: room for grief, for relief, for misery, for joy.” Marlene’s Musings: Add room for writing. Part of your healing journey can be to write your way through and out of grief. Your problems may seem to expand and shrink as you remember and write. One day things may seem dreary and impossible. Another day (maybe even an hour later), life may look brighter. Click here for ideas how to write about…
All sorrows can be borne . . .
“All sorrows can be borne if you put them in a story or tell a story about them.” Isak Dinesen Excerpted “From The Editor,” Alicia Anstead, editor-in-chief, July 2015, The Writer Magazine, writing about trauma and loss. Marlene’s Musings: Sometimes our writing explores fun journeys. Other times our writing takes an unexpected turn and drifts into a gully where sadness could be overwhelming. Next week I plan to post how to write about difficult subjects without re-traumatizing ourselves. Stay tuned!
I may never finish my novel . . .
“I may never finish my novel, but the joy of writing, of using those 26 letters to express and share what I create with them, is the comfort that keeps me on the journey.” Connie Mygatt Connie Mygatt is a writer/artist living in beautiful Petaluma, California. She was born and raised in rural Pennsylvania, married and started her family there. The rich memories of life in that rural area and living in California for over 30 years have allowed her to experience many wonderful and sad moments that are an ever constant source of inspiration to her. Plus, life is ever offering intriguing “what if” moments from which to harvest story lines. She enjoys writing short stories, poetry and has started her first novel. Last year, Connie finished writing, illustrating and publishing her first children’s book, Only For A While, which can be purchased on Amazon or through her directly at Maye123 – at – comcast.com
“Not only is it OK to risk failure; it’s necessary.” Anthony Doerr
Anthony Doerr, winner of the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for fiction, believes “We need to live with the fear that we will stink, that no one will pay any attention, that we will fall like trees in an empty forest: the fear that we are going to take our glorious, flawless, nebulous ideas and butcher them on the altar of reality.” “Not only is it OK to risk failure; it’s necessary.” Marlene’s Musings: Feel better now? If a Pulitzer Prize winner can think it’s okay . . . no, it’s necessary to fail. . . then let’s all fail. No worries about your writing. . . Go for it. Just Write! Quote from “Costume Drama,” Real Simple magazine, October 2014.
Inside myself is a place where . . .
Inside myself is a place where I live all alone and that’s where you renew your springs that never dry up. — Pearl S. Buck Marlene’s Musings: And that’s where writers come alive. . . from your imagination, you spin tales that inform, entertain, enhance and make life enjoyable. Keep writing! Something I just learned: Pearl Sydenstricker Buck, also known by her Chinese name Sai Zhenzhu, was an American writer and novelist. As the daughter of missionaries, Buck spent most of her life before 1934 in China. Thanks, Wikipedia!
Trust Your Instincts
Gabriel Packard asked Bo Kaprall: What is the most important thing you’ve learned about writing? — The Writer magazine, June 2015 Kaprall answered, “Probably the most important single thing I’ve learned about writing is to trust your instincts, because, especially with comedy, it’s so subjective. One person will love it; another person will hate it. Everyone seeks comments and reinforcement or criticism, but really you need to trust your instincts, and that’s harder for someone who’s new at it than someone who’s a little more seasoned.” Marlene’s Musings: I agree. When in doubt, listen to your “gut feeling.” Your instincts are right on . . . you just have to trust yourself. With that in mind, when working with an editor . . . listen to what the editor has to say . . . you don’t always have to agree, nor make the suggested changes. Just listen carefully, then…
If you have built castles in the air . . .
“I learned this, at least, by my experiment: that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. He will put some things behind, will pass an invisible boundary; . . . If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.” — Henry Thoreau, Walden or Life In the Woods Marlene’s Musings: In order to advance confidently as a writer. . . you need to think like a person who is in the business of writing. It’s one thing to be a writer, it’s another thing to be a published author. And if you don’t care about being published. . . then I hope you are enjoying your writing. Build those castles…
Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not . . .
“Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not, it’s not the end.” — John Paul DeJoria, Co-founder of Paul Mitchell hair products and Patron Spirits companies. John is referring to his early life knocks, but he could also be referring to writers, especially when he says, “Be prepared for rejection.” Writers are given rejection advice all the time. “Don’t take it personally.” “Rejection slips means you are submitting.” “At least you’re trying.” All these words . . . do they really help when you receive a rejection notice? I worked hard a few months ago refining a piece I’ve been working on for a long time. I felt confident and satisfied when I hit the “submit” button. And then waited. And waited. Waited some more. You probably know this story. Finally, the notice arrived that although my piece was well-written, it wasn’t accepted. I felt . . ….
You cannot change the past nor control the future.
“Live in the present, since you cannot change the past or control the future.” — B. Lynn Goodwin Marlene’s Musings: Good advice for anyone, especially writers. Just do your best to be the most authentic writer you can be. Your truth and your genuineness will come out in your writing. Your poignancy, your humor, your unique “you-ness” will bring a freshness and honesty to your writing. Be your best self . . . who else can you be? Except from “Celebrate Your Uniqueness,” by B. Lynn Goodwin B. Lynn Goodwin is the owner of Writer Advice, www.writeradvice.com, which is currently holding its 10th Flash Prose Contest. She’s the author of You Want Me to Do WHAT? Journaling for Caregivers, and a YA called Talent, which Eternal Press will be publishing this year. Her short pieces have been published in local and regional publications. Lynn will be on a panel of…