I still have more prompts, if you guys are willing to read 'em, but I'm going to space them out. I'll do the rest here and there, so as not to burn you (or me) out. Deal? Another will appear in a day or so...
For today, I'm keeping it simple.
I read Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird a few months ago. Most of it, anyway. I actually read the last couple chapters the other night - non-fiction is like that for me; I read it in spurts. Though silly me didn't pull out a highlighter until the last chapter, she said a lot that resounded with me. One of the best things was this, and I'll let it speak for itself...
Don't underestimate this gift of finding a place in the writing world: if you really work at describing creatively on paper the truth as you understand it, as you have experienced it, with the people or material who are in you, who are asking that you help them get written, you will come to a secret feeling of honor...
13 comments:
Great quote! Hoping your writing day is filled with hope. How is your study coming along? Can't wait to see more pics! PS the pigs are dead!!
Love this book...one of my all time favs. This is one of the best bits from it too :). Thanks for the reminder!
Love it when writers get to the heart of the craft like this, rather than the technical stuff. Looks like a great book, thanks for mentioning it.
Bird by Bird and Stephen King's On Writing are two of my fav books on the craft; both written with clarity and unpretentiousness.
Terri - Same to you! I hope we have productive weeks.
Jenna - I think I've placed this one high on my list, too. I love her voice and how self-deprecating she can be. Seems so... relatable. :)
Joanne - I say check the book out if you get a chance!
Angie - I've heard many mention On Writing, and may throw that one on my Christmas list, too. Thanks for mentioning it!
Janna--the longest I think I've waited is a year and a half from start to finish. But I have a story semi-accepted for Adam's media that I submitted last fall--this past spring I became a finalist but she said it would not be until NEXT fall when the final count is done as the book comes out at Christmas. So that is about the longest! But I have also had short times --if you submit right before the deadline and get in.
Bird by Bird was the first writing book I read (On Writing was the second) and it really motivated me. I might need to flip through it again to find more of those nuggets.
I'm reading The First Five Pages right now and it's good, but a little lifeless.
Very nice. I should add this one to my book list. Thanks. :)
Powerful quote, great book.
I just reread Bird by Bird a couple of months ago. Such a great book. I love her memoirs "Traveling Mercies" too! Thanks for sharing the perfect quote for my day!
Hi Janna....the trick to my accent is this (I do this in Microsoft Word, copy and paste where necessary)...
Press Ctrl and the apostrope/quote key and THEN hit your e and it will magically appear with an accent. Wah-lah!
Thanks, Terri! Good to know.
Melanie - I understand now why I always heard so many people reference it, even when they'd just read it in a college class. And The First Five Pages is one on my list for Christmas!
Turkey and Aaron, I'm glad you appreciated the quote. :)
Rachel, I thought I'd check out another of her books. Thanks for the title!
Michaéle - Aha! I did it! :D
very ku
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