{And CONGRATS to Candilynn Fite who just got an agent!}
And now these insightful authors can help you far better than I can:
“You were once wild here. Don’t let them tame you.”
— Isadora Duncan
“Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”
— Steve Jobs
“Talking endlessly about something instead of doing it depletes you of the drive to get it done.”
— Milli Thornton, Write Your Screenplay in 29 Days
“By consciously rising to meet challenges, we transform them into opportunities.”
— Sharon Jeffers in Cards of Destiny
“A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit.”
— Richard Bach
“We all have big changes in our lives that are more or less a second chance.”
— Harrison Ford
“When your heart speaks, take good notes.”
— Judith Campbell
“Why are you trying so hard to fit in when you were born to stand out?”
— From the movie What a Girl Wants
“Never, for the sake of peace and quiet, deny your own experience or convictions.”
— Dag Hammarskjold
If you write one story, it may be bad; if you write a hundred, you have the odds in your favor.
- Edgar Rice Burroughs
- John Campbell
Thank your readers and the critics who praise you, and then ignore them. Write for the most intelligent, wittiest, wisest audience in the universe: Write to please yourself.
- Harlan Ellison
Writing is the hardest work in the world. I have been a bricklayer and a truck driver, and I tell you -- as if you haven't been told a million times already -- that writing is harder. Lonelier. And nobler and more enriching.
- Harlan Ellison
And lastly from the master:
At one time I thought the most important thing was talent.
I think now that the young man or the young woman must possess or teach himself, training himself, in infinite patience, which is to try and to try until it comes right.
He must train himself in ruthless intolerance--
that is to throw away anything that is false no matter how much he might love that page or that paragraph.
The most important thing is insight, that is to be--
curious--
to wonder, to mull, and to muse why it is that man does what he does,
and if you have that, then I don't think the talent makes much difference, whether you've got it or not.
One last:
Style is less the man than the way a man takes himself.
Get it down. Take chances. It may be bad, but it's the only way you can do anything really good.
- William Faulkner
foreknowledge of defeat is not sufficient reason to withdraw from the contest."
- Samuel McCord
WELL WORTH YOUR TIME:
{Coming Soon}
I write to please myself.
ReplyDeleteAnd now I also write to please fans.
Bunny eat bunny? Sounds vicious.
Happy New Year, Roland.
And BIG congratulations to Candilynn!
The importance of wondering, mulling and musing--all good words from Faulkner!
ReplyDeleteThose are great quotes! Thanks for posting them all together; it's a lot of food for thought for the new year.
ReplyDeleteAlex:
ReplyDeleteAh, but in the children book market, it is vicious! :-)
I am so happy for Candy, too.
May 2013 be great for all of us.
Catherine:
You can't go wrong following Faulkner's advice. May this New Year bless you in special ways!
The Golden Eagle:
I looked at those quotes and knew they would help more than any of my words!
Me again,
ReplyDeleteTwice in one day... Don't pass out..
Terrific quotes....
And a MAJOR congrats to Candilynn!
I love Faulkner.
ReplyDeleteMichael:
ReplyDeleteI had today off - first day off in 9 days, so I slept through most of it!
I knew I would be back at work tomorrow with no chance for Alex's blogfest, so it was post it today or never!
And I am happy for Candy! :-)
Tonja:
I love Faulkner, too, which is why I have his ghost do "ghost" posts here. LOL.
Congrats to Candilynn. Great quotes Roland. I love them.
ReplyDeleteDenise
Denise:
ReplyDeleteMay you have a magical new year! Glad you liked the quotes.
Great quotes, Roland. Although I'm not a fan (think I've mentioned that several times, sorry), wise words from Faulkner. However it's the Jobs quote that speaks to me. Wish I'd had it for my own post.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
Come visit me in my new "home" if you have time.
~VR Barkowski
V.R.:
ReplyDeleteFaulkner was not pleasant with the ladies in his life so his ghost understands. Nice of him, huh? :-)
I am so happy to hear that you are back! Instead of replying to your comment immediately, I went to your new blog:
https://vrbarkowski.wordpress.com/2013/01/02/insecure-writers-support-group/#comment-4028
(Shameless plug for you, good friend)
And I read and commented there. May 2013 bring you all the success I wish for you!! Roland
Aw, my heart is singing. You are so sweet, my friend. Thank so much for mentioning my good news! Thanks to everyone for their congrats as well. This community is the best! :)
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree with Victor. The kidlit publishing biz is a bunny eat bunny world. Such great quotes, Roland. I've enjoyed them all. I resonate well with the quote from What a Girl Wants...I tried a long time to fit in, but my crazy-shaped personality never, ever fit in the square box.
Happy New Year ~ May you have magic every day to come.
Great quotes Roland and Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteDear Roland,
ReplyDeleteGreat quotes for writer-wannabees. I left NaNo unfinished and decided to do some reading before finishing my novel.
Hope you are well and happy!
Best wishes,
Anna
Great quotes Roland; I can see why it was hard to stop adding inspiration :)
ReplyDeleteYou have such amazing covers for your books.
......dhole
Two of my favorite quotes: the last one by Samuel McCord (I think you might know him) and this one:
ReplyDelete“A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit.”
We're good at not quitting!
great quotes & commentary!
ReplyDeletethen, ah!! creepy picture!
what a jolt!
yay, candilynn!
happy 2013!
Candy:
ReplyDeleteI am so happy for you! So is Victor. He says to watch out for the Bunny eat Bunny World you are entering. LOL.
And may magic dawn upon each new day for you, too.
Siv:
Thanks. I hope your holidays were special. May New Year Magic be yours always!
Anna:
You weere wise to follow your instincts with NaNo. May you be well and happy as well!!
Donna:
The genius, Leonora Roy, deserves all the credit for my covers. She is a true artist. Yes, it was hard to stop -- just like with potato chips!! :-)
Jennifer:
Sam will slap me with his Stetson if I ever forget him! May a second wind always fill our sails when thoughts of quitting darken our hearts!!
Tara:
YAY, Candilynn, too! I'm happy you liked my quotes. The creepy cover is for my latest scary yet heart-warming urban fantasy. A hard combo to manage!! LOL.