Little Pearls
This time of year, all the buzz on blogs and loops and writers websites deal with goals and to-do lists, dreams and aspirations. We all have them. Some of us write them out and stick them on a big post-it board in our office, some of us make lists on our computers or on paper and stick them in a drawer, others of us keep them filed away in our heads. Whether you need to see those goals daily or simply think about them is up to you, but one thing I'm sure we all could use from time to time is a good dose of motivation. I know I sure do. Though my writing goals are ingrained in my head and I know where I'm going, a few reminders here and there that I'm on the right path as I make my way never hurts.
A very dear writer friend of mine got me a nifty little book for Christmas. It's called the Writer's Little Instruction Book: Inspiration & Motivation by Paul Raymond Martin. Now, I'm really not one for craft books, and most inspirational books just don't interest me, but this one is pocket-sized and instead of pages and pages of this-is-what-you-need-to-do-to-stay-motivated instructions, it's simply full of one-liners - pearls of wisdom that make you stop, think, and realize you're on the right road to get to your goal. And wow, yeah, it is inspirational all by itself.
I'm going to share some of my favorite quotes from the book here:
Writing is the only known cure for not writing.
Writer's block does not spring upon one full blown; it worms its way into your consciousness. Dispel the first and every subsequent niggling doubt.
A negative attitude will erode your creative landscape more surely than a torrent of criticism.
Writers make sentences. Wanna-bes make excuses.
You needn't be in control of your material to begin writing - only to finish.
Write what won't let you sleep in the middle of the night.
Your favorite piece of writing will always be your next one.
Focus on identifying what is wrong, not on fixing it. Fixing comes later.
The best thing about writing? There is no wrong way to do it.
Working writers hardly ever write well on the first try. It usually takes many rewrites to write well. Even for famous writers.
Don't talk yourself out of a story. Instead, write the story out of yourself.
Writing generates inspiration. Not the other way around.
and finally,
A person may be born with the potential to be a writer, but every writer is self-made.
Do you have any quotes that inspire you to keep reaching for your dream?
A very dear writer friend of mine got me a nifty little book for Christmas. It's called the Writer's Little Instruction Book: Inspiration & Motivation by Paul Raymond Martin. Now, I'm really not one for craft books, and most inspirational books just don't interest me, but this one is pocket-sized and instead of pages and pages of this-is-what-you-need-to-do-to-stay-motivated instructions, it's simply full of one-liners - pearls of wisdom that make you stop, think, and realize you're on the right road to get to your goal. And wow, yeah, it is inspirational all by itself.
I'm going to share some of my favorite quotes from the book here:
Writing is the only known cure for not writing.
Writer's block does not spring upon one full blown; it worms its way into your consciousness. Dispel the first and every subsequent niggling doubt.
A negative attitude will erode your creative landscape more surely than a torrent of criticism.
Writers make sentences. Wanna-bes make excuses.
You needn't be in control of your material to begin writing - only to finish.
Write what won't let you sleep in the middle of the night.
Your favorite piece of writing will always be your next one.
Focus on identifying what is wrong, not on fixing it. Fixing comes later.
The best thing about writing? There is no wrong way to do it.
Working writers hardly ever write well on the first try. It usually takes many rewrites to write well. Even for famous writers.
Don't talk yourself out of a story. Instead, write the story out of yourself.
Writing generates inspiration. Not the other way around.
and finally,
A person may be born with the potential to be a writer, but every writer is self-made.
Do you have any quotes that inspire you to keep reaching for your dream?
posted by Elisabeth Naughton at 10:28 AM
3Comments:
I love these.
I've heard one that goes along the line of "There is a word for a writer that never quits: Published."
That's a great one, Kendra. And so very true.
And the friend who sent it also bought herself a set...and has yet to open them.
(big L on forehead)
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