Positive Quote of the Week - Self-Doubt

"Don't waste life in doubts and fears; spend yourself on the work before you, well assured that the right performance of this hour's duties will be the best preparation for the hours and ages that will follow it."  Ralph Waldo Emerson

Of late, I have been back in the mindset questioning "is my writing good enough to be successful, and therefore make all the effort worthwhile."  I found many wonderful quotes about self-doubt and writing, which I will probably share at a later date, but this particular quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson spoke volumes to me.  Although the language style made me have to think about what I read, when I finally digested the statement, it turned out to be "Stop worrying about your writing, get on with the hard work, knowing that the more you write, the better you will become."  Not much I can argue with there.

Positive Quote of the Week - Imagination

"Perhaps imagination is only intelligence having fun."  George Scialabba

Perhaps that is why it is so much fun to be creative!  There is a real thrill when the pieces of a story come together, when imagination (or the muse, or whatever you want to call it) drops the answer to a question of plot into my brain.  The beauty and simplicity of the answer has made me gasp on more than one occasion, often followed by a large grin and/or laughter.  I get to share a moment of pure joy with a part of my brain that enjoys surprise and wonder and fun.

Writing Quote of the Week

"Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia." - E.L. Doctorow


After much thought, I have decided E.L. Doctorow is right.  Perhaps I should say I recognize in the quote some personal truth.  One of the reasons I have continued writing over the last two years is because it gives me an outlet from my own "real" life.  When I sit down and write about Hazel, or Carter, or Julia, I suspend my own reality and enter into a reality where monsters are real, man lives on the moon and a two year old is capable of shape-shifting.  I can forget about the stressors of work for an hour, and emerge the better person for entering this 'acceptable form of schizophrenia'.

Positive Quote of the Week - Perseverance

"Things are only impossible until they're not" Jean-Luc Picard, Star Trek: The Next Generation

It occurred to me when I read this quote that maybe that is why I like science fiction and fantasy.  Those genres allow for possibilities not seen in the real world.  No, dragons and elves are not going to show up on the streets of small town Wyoming, but reading and writing in the genres of science fiction and fantasy allow my imagination to roam into places otherwise impossible.

Another aspect of this quote is the meaning it lends to dreams (as in hopes and dreams).  Dreams often require the belief that the impossible can become possible.  One necessary component  hinted at in the quote is the perseverance to see the dream through until it is reality.  This can be a difficult task when your inner critic is screaming you're no good and it's not worth the effort.  I don't know if it can be taught, but it seems the denial of reality that is characteristic of dreamers has to kick in at this point and drown out the critic.  It doesn't have to say everything will turn out perfectly, but it has to remind a person that there is still hope.  And so we go one, striving for the day when the impossible is not.

Positive Quote of the Week

"Men fail much oftener from want of perseverance than from want of talent."  William Cobbett

I posted this on tumblr this summer, and it bears repeating.  It is always good to remember that you win a race by finishing it, not just by running fast.