When you think your story plot is lame or your writing generally sucks, remember this advice from Anne Lamott and just keep writing: “Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts. You need to start somewhere.”
Author F. Scott Fitzgerald once made this wry observation: “Writers aren’t exactly people.They’re a whole bunch of people trying to be one person.”
If you aspire to succeed at writing, one quick point to remember in those dark moments when you’re discouraged and tempted to give up: “A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit.” —Richard Bach
Sad but true, I have spent much of my life waiting for inspiration instead of writing. If you want to write, do it—don’t make excuses for why you can’t. Remember: “If you wait for inspiration to write, you’re not a writer, you’re a waiter.”
A bit of midnight randomness as I contemplate the meaning of my crazy life in a crazy world: “Life is like a bowl of cereal. A mix of milk that might be sweet or sour, a few shriveled raisins, lots of flakes and broken pieces, a healthy dose of irony, and a sprinkle of sugar … read more Crazy Life, Crazy World
Whether you are a writer, or you are traveling another road in life, the time you waste is time you lose. The time you have in this world is less than you think—use it wisely and get busy writing. Now, not next week or next month! A wonderful quote worth remembering: “Every day you waste … read more Time Wasted Is Time Lost
If writing is in your blood, this quote will ring true: “A writer never has a vacation. For a writer life consists of either writing or thinking about writing.” —Eugene Ionesco
A long time ago, when I initially set out to be a writer and before I sold my first book to a traditional publisher, I had a drawer full of form rejection slips—more than 100! But I persisted, and eventually landed a multi-book contract that launched my writing career. If you have writing in your … read more Never Give Up
A quiet night here, and too much time to think about the past and fret about the future. “Sometimes you just have to be silent because no words can explain what is going on in your heart and mind.”
No matter how great a writer you might be, if you are like most, you’re prone to fits of self-doubt. When that miserable feeling descends on you, remember: “Doubt has killed more dreams than failure ever will.”