I'm considering renaming my blog The Textbook Looneybin...
Mom sent me a fantastic book for Christmas. Written by Stephen King (yes THE horror King) On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft is about writing and how to be good at it. AND Stephen King is an amazing writer. I wish I could read his books but, being a dyed (pun intended) in the wool scaredy-cat I just can't if I want to sleep anytime soon.
He says;
"Writing is a lonely job. Having someone who believes in you makes a lot of difference. They don't have to make speeches. Just believing is usually enough." - THANKS to my family for for believing in me.
"The scariest moment is always just before you start." - it's good to know even he is still scared by a blank page.
"Stopping a piece of work just because it's hard, either emotionally or imaginatively, is a bad idea. Sometimes you have to go on when you don't feel like it, and sometimes you're doing good work when it feels like all you're managing is to shovel s*%t from a sitting position." - soooo true!
"I believe the road to Hell is paved with adverbs." - and paved totally, completely and profligately!
"I'm convinced that fear is at the root of most bad writing... Good writing is often about letting go of fear and affectation." - OK, so face the fear and write what you know to be true Beth!
"Grammar is not just a pain in the a**; it's the pole you grab to get your thoughts up on their feet and walking." - It is easy for me to say I dislike grammar immensely but this gave me a whole new way of looking at it. I shall respect the rules from now on.
"It starts with this: put your desk in the corner, and every time you sit down there to write, remind yourself why it isn't in the middle of the room. Life isn't a support-system for art. It's the other way around." - It's hard to explain but this adventure (the art of biblical study, I suppose) I'm on truly is supporting and sustaining my at this point in my life.
"... the ordinary miracle that comes with any attempt to create something." - this miracle that stretches before me... hhhmmmmm... I might as well create something beautiful!
* pg 112 of On Writing
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What a sage he is. Haven't read his books either, though I did read the one he "wrote" (really, a collection of emails) with his friend about the Red Sox season when they unexpectedly won the World Series. Very engaging.
ReplyDeleteIf fear is at the root of most bad writing, it's no wonder that so many great works were written under the influence of various substances.
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