If I could tattoo one writing truth on my hand, it would be the last line of my old Courage post, and would look like this:
What truth would you write on your hand? Let us know in comments.
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Handy Advice
Over at Writer Unboxed author Barbara O'Neal (aka Barbara Samuel) has an excellent piece here about writing truths and how we arrive at them. There's also a line to site with photos of authors' hands with such advice actually written on them.
If I could tattoo one writing truth on my hand, it would be the last line of my old Courage post, and would look like this:
What truth would you write on your hand? Let us know in comments.
If I could tattoo one writing truth on my hand, it would be the last line of my old Courage post, and would look like this:
What truth would you write on your hand? Let us know in comments.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I love the Courage post. Every time I read it, I get inspired again.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many words I could put on my hand, I can't decide what to choose. Sort of how my writing goes some days... ;D
I hear you, Terlee. Today I think my hand would probably read "Stop getting distracted by life and finish the darn story!"
DeleteThis was the first time I'd read your courage post. It made me cry because so much of it was me, the way I've felt so many times.
ReplyDeleteIf I could tattoo one word on my hand, it would be: BELIEVE.
Your one word is a powerful one, Queen -- and thanks for reading that old post. I think of all the things I've ever posted on PBW that one was the most important.
DeleteBe true to yourself. That's a biggie for me.
ReplyDeleteAmen, Lisa. It's so vital, and yet sometimes (many times) life gets so crazy that we forget who we really are.
DeleteI'm going to need a bigger hand. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI'm a new follower, but enjoyed your post. I followed the link to your "Courage" post and I can certainly relate. I've been attempting this whole "writing" thing since 2009 - as exhilarating as the highs can be, the lows have very nearly worn me out - but I won't stop. I refuse to stop. Instead, I dance around my writing. I find projects that need to be done around the office. New paint. Furniture polish. Hang pictures.
I have to remind myself when all is said and done, when I'm nearing the light at the end of the tunnel, where I placed my orchid on my desk won't matter. What will matter is if I ever accomplished what I set out to do: write. I've turned into such a compulsive list-maker - I write more about how I'm going to write than I actually write. It needs to stop. I'm venturing out into the blogosphere and finding like-minded individuals from whom I can learn and be inspired. Thanks for a truly wonderful post.
I think I've made my decision. I'd write "Stop talking about 'starting a novel' and start talking about finishing one."
Cherstin
Welcome, Cherstin, and thanks for your comment -- you are very eloquent, and I know a lot of the regulars here can relate (so do I; right now I have a lot of stuff getting between me and the work, and I need to mentally clean house, change my focus and get back to protecting the work.)
DeleteOn days when my lows are particularly grueling (yesterday was a doozy) I change things up. I spent the whole morning working on paper outside on the back porch, and wrote more in three hours than I had in the three previous days. I also wasn't working on a story but instead vented in a long letter to a friend. I needed to get one very big, tough-to-talk-about subject on paper so I could stop brooding about it, too. Today I feel a hundred pounds lighter, and tomorrow I'm going to pick up where I left off with the work, forge ahead and finish the story (on schedule if possible; if not I'll just keep at it until I do.)
I hope you'll stop in again and talk with some of the other visitors -- they really make the blog special, and many of them have great insights and advice.
Wow. I hadn't see the Courage post before.
ReplyDeleteI'm printing it out and taping it to the wall next to my desk.
Thanks, Shawna -- that is a huge compliment for any writer, but especially this one. :)
DeleteI'm not a writer so I don't have a slogan for that, but I do have one for life (if that doesn't sound too pretentious). I'd have "pay it forward" written on my hand. I believe that you should treat people the way you want to be treated. Do a stranger a favour or lend a hand when needed and it'll come back to you in the end. Or maybe I should just have "Karma" to keep it simple because I've got small hands!
ReplyDeleteDon't ask me to pick, Fran, because I like both (Karma might take up less room, though.)
DeleteAs for you not being a writer, after all the comments you've composed and left here and over on the series blog I must respectfully disagree -- you have a wonderful way with words.
Sapere aude - Dare to know. Not sure when I first came across the idea of liberating yourself by gaining knowledge and using it - but it has been my motto ever since
ReplyDeleteI've never heard that one, Susanne, and what a great motto for any curious mind -- I love it.
Delete